Hinduism, in practice and in much of its theory, is preoccupied with how things look and with making things beautiful, the more so to make them real and present for the believer. Everything – the human body, the figure of a deity, the embellishment of a temple or palace, the patterns of fabric and clothing, and the smallest piece of jewelry – presents a potential vehicle and stage for dressing and adornment. These create potent opportunities for conveying complex information about social status,…