Ovcharenko I. The Aestheticism in The Ritual Systems of Mahayana Buddhism: Content and Functions.

The dissertation investigates the meaning and functions of aestheticism in the ritual systems of Mahayana Buddhism. The author primarily accentuates on aesthetic aspect of the ritual. In the process of investigation there were discussed concrete aspects of Buddhist aesthetics in the context of Indian culture. The author also tries to distinguish the essential and methodological principles of Buddhist aesthetics and discover some aesthetic aspects that are particular to the Buddhist ritual. The author looked at the main functions of aesthetics in the ritual systems of Mahayana Buddhism.