It is interesting to trace the development of temple architecture in Ancient India as early Indians perhaps may have used temple shrines constructed out of wood or other materials which perhaps have not survived till the day making it difficult to study any other modes of worship that may have been prevalent. Buddhist iconography however has very distinct archaeological evidence dating from the days of the Buddha himself. There is evidence to show the burials in stupas in the Buddha’s age itself, which received a further filip and became very organised during the Mauryan rule of Asoka. Apart from the chaityas and stupas, several caves were also excavated for mendicants, which are represented by the caves of Rajagriha including the Sone Bhandar and the Saptaparni caves. The Hindus who were probably faced with a new challenge due to the attraction of the masses by the Buddhist places of worship and pilgrimage, perhaps reacted in a competitive manner and started building shrines to honor and worship the gods and mythological themes in order to instill a sense of devotion among the common folk, who were being easily lured by Buddhists and Jains, who were extensively using shrines to propagate their faith.

To be continued.....