This anthology Metaphors of the Indian Arts and Other Essays is a selection of writings of Dr Kapila Vatsyayan s nearly four-decade long journey as an art critic and art historian. It reveals the distinct nature of Indian arts from the angle of the world-view in which they emerge. At the same time, it amply shows the theory of art and aesthetics which may enable us to to see the other traditions of art from our own window . In a seminal article entitled Metaphors of the Indian Arts , the author identifies some fundamentals which permeate the Indian artistic traditions. In the article entitled Mountain, Myth, Monuments Dr Vatsyayan discusses the significance of mountains and the sanctuaries, diversity of attitude and approaches to them in Indian context.

Introduction / Kamalesh Datta Tripathi -- Indian aesthetics -- The discipline of art history : its multidimensional nature -- Metaphors of the Indian arts -- Goddesses and women in Indian myth and art -- Early evidence of female figures, music and dance -- The Indian arts : their ideational background and principles of form -- The flying messenger -- Ecology and Indian myth -- Mountain, myth, monuments -- Sanctuaries : the journey of immanence and transcendence -- Entrances and gateways to the Indian pilgrimage.