Ritual

'Krim', the bijamantra, almost an equation of this, is a further
simplification in which the essence of the concept is latent.
Speaking of the achievement of yoga vision, Sukracharya
further teaches: 'When the consciousness is brought to rest in the
form [nama, 'name', 'idea'] and sees only the form, then, inasmuch
as it rests in the form, aspectual perception is dispensed with and
only the reference remains; one reaches then the world-withoutaspectual-perception,
and with further practice attains to liberation
from all hindrances.' This profound discipline led the artist to
visualize the highest degree of abstraction, exposing it in the
colour-field abstraction where all images are totally effaced in a
patternless visual field.
In this form of discipline, art and worship can only be artificially
separated. The process of image-making, involving a complex
series of interior activities, among other methods of yoga
discipline, provides the psychological condition necessary to
A young aspirant learning the art
of carving traditional icon-images
from his guru, a Sthapati of South
India. The palm-leaf manuscript
contains prescriptions and guidance
regarding technique and spiritual
attitudes.
87