Mūrti, Idol, Art, and Commodity

Abstract

This chapter investigates the production, deployment, and interpretation of Hindu images, beginning in the nineteenth century, involving the interaction of non-Hindus and Hindus with the image in the Indian context and its eventual travel to the United States and the United Kingdom. Through processes of sacralization, politicization, display, appropriation, commoditization, and protest at various points in history, the Hindu image has been signified and resignified by Hindus and non-Hindus alike. Hindu images serve a multitude of purposes—functioning simultaneously, interdependently, and independently in the religious, social, political, artistic, and commercial realms. While the image of the god/goddess plays numerous roles, this chapter focuses on the image as mūrti, idol (in a pejorative sense), political symbol, art, and commodity.