About the empire
The Gupta Dynasty, founded by Chandragupta-I (accession c. 320 CE), ruled in North Central India between the 4th and 6th centuries CE and the period is considered a golden age of artistic accomplishment. Harisena's rule extended the Central Indian Vakataka Empire to include a stretch of the east coast of India, the Gupta Empire ruled northern India at the same period and the Pallava dynasty much of the south. Chandragupta-I (320 – 335 CE) started a rapid expansion of the Gupta Empire and soon established himself as the first sovereign ruler of the empire. Administratively, the Gupta kingdom was divided into provinces and these in turn were divided into smaller units called Pradeshas or Visayas. The provinces were governed by high imperial officers or members of the royal family. A decentralized system of authority is indicated by the composition of Gupta-era municipal boards. Gupta kings were devout Vaishnava (Hindus who worship the Supreme Creator as Vishnu) themselves, yet that did not prevent them from being tolerant towards the believers of Buddhism and Jainism. As a pre-eminent site of education and cultural exchange Nalanda prospered under their patronage. Jainism flourished in northern Bengal, Gorakhpur, Udayagiri, Gujarat and several Jain establishments existed across the empire and Jain councils were a regular occurrence.
Famous kings of their empire
Chandragupta-I (320-335 or 340 A.D.): From the Kushans, the Gupta kings learned the benefit of maintaining a cavalry and Chandragupta-I, son of Ghatotkacha, made effective use of his strong army. Through his marriage, he received the ownership of rich mines full of iron ore adjacent to his kingdom. Metallurgy was already at an advanced stage and forged iron was not only used to meet the internal demands but also became a valuable trade commodity. The territorial heads ruling over various parts of India could not counter the superior armed forces of Chandragupta-I and had to surrender before him. It is conjectured that at the end of his reign, the boundary of the Gupta Empire was already extended to Allahabad.
Samudragupta (Nearly 340-380 A.D): Samudra Gupta was not the eldest son of his father, his claim was challenged by his brothers though his father, with a desire to avoid war of succession, had declared him his successor in a royal darbar before all his assembled chiefs and nobles. Samudra Gupta proved to be a military genius, a great conqueror and a most successful commander who remained undefeated throughout his life. He conquered and annexed those territories to his empire which were necessary to create a strong empire and could be effectively controlled. Beyond that, he restored the conquered territories to their respective rulers once they accepted his sovereignty. He conquered and annexed those territories to his empire which were necessary to create a strong empire and could be effectively controlled. Beyond that, he restored the conquered territories to their respective rulers once they accepted his sovereignty. In the West, he seems to have advanced as far as the river Chambal and the conquered territories included Uttar Pradesh and portions of Central India and Bengal. In the North and North-East, the kingdoms at the sea-coast of East Bengal, two kingdoms of Assam (Kamarupa and Devalsa) the kingdom of Kartipura (which included the district of Jalandhar and probably, the districts of Kumaon, Garhwal and Rohilkhand) and Nepal accepted his sovereignty. In the North-West, nine states accepted his sovereignty. These were the kingdoms of the Malavas, the Arjunayanas, the Yaudheyas, the Madrakas, the Sanakanikas, the Abhiras, the Prarjunas, the Kakas and the Kheraparikas.
Rama Gupta: Samudra Gupta was succeeded by his son Rama Gupta. While fighting against the Sakas, Rama Gupta was placed in such a difficult position that he agreed to surrender his wife Dhruvadevi to the Saka king. But his younger brother Chandra Gupta opposed this ignominious agreement, himself went to the Saka camp in the disguise of Dhruvadevi and murdered the Saka king. This incident raised his prestige amongst the people while the reputation of Rama Gupta suffered heavily. Ultimately, Chandra Gupta killed Rama Gupta, succeeded to the throne and also married Dhruvadevi. There is another possibility also that Rama Gupta might have occupied the Western part of the empire after the death of Samudra Gupta or might be a regional ruler but was shortly defeated and killed by Chandra Gupta who had succeeded to the throne of Samudra Gupta.
Chandra Gupta-II (Nearly 380-413 or 415 A.D): Chandra Gupta was the son of Samudra Gupta born of his chief queen Dattadevi. He was also named Deva Gupta, Deva Raja or Deva Sri. Some scholars have identified him with Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya of Ujjayini of Indian legends whose court is said to have been adorned by nine scholars (Navaratna) of repute including Kalidasa. Chandra Gupta proved an ambitious and capable ruler and a conqueror. He had inherited a fairly large empire from his father. He extended it further both by diplomacy and wars of conquest and his chief opponent was the Saka ruler of Gujarat and Kathiawar. It seems that in the East the whole of Bengal was annexed by him. But in the North-West it is not certain whether the territories of the Punjab and the Kushana dominions beyond it were brought under his direct control or not. Probably, his north-western campaign was successful and he reached, in the North-West, up to Bactria as no other Indian ruler had done by then, but the territories beyond Punjab were not annexed to the empire and left free to be ruled by their local rulers. Yet, Chandra Gupta succeeded in destroying the Saka and Kushana kingdoms in India and providing political and administrative unity to practically the entire North India except Kashmir and the North-West frontier of India.
Kumara Gupta (Near about 415-455 A.D.): Chandra Gupta-II was succeeded by his son Kumar Gupta born of his chief queen Dhruvadevi. He brought about certain administrative reforms and ruled successfully for about forty years. He performed Asvamedha sacrifice and assumed the title of Mahendraditya though it is not certain whether he had any new conquest to his credit. It also seems that he probably tried to conquer territories south of the river Narmada, which spoiled his relations with the Vakatakas and resulted in the hostility of the Pushyamitras (whose kingdom lay south of the river Narmada) towards the close of his reign. During the later part of his rule, the empire was menaced by the invasion of the Hunas as well who, after the occupation of the Gandhara-Pradesh, had started proceeding towards the Indus valley. However, his son Skanda Gupta succeeded in defeating the Hunas. Kumara Gupta was a successful ruler who kept intact the vast empire inherited from his father and also maintained peace and prosperity within its frontiers. The defeat of the Hunas by his son Skanda Gupta proves that the military strength of the empire also remained intact under him.
Skanda Gupta (455-467 A.D): Kumara Gupta died when Skanda Gupta was away from the capital to repulse the invasions of the Hunas on the north-west frontier of the empire. Taking advantage of his absence, probably, his stepbrother Puru Gupta ascended the throne immediately after the death of his father. But he was soon replaced by Skanda Gupta. Skanda Gupta was engaged in hostilities against his enemies almost from the beginning of his reign. But he proved himself a capable general. He defeated the hostile Pushyamitras. But, while he was busy fighting against the Hunas, probably, the Vakataka ruler Narendrasen occupied Malwa. However, the rest of the territories of the empire were kept intact by him. But his greatest achievement was to save the empire from the invasions of the white Hunas. Skanda Gupta had defeated them once as the crown-prince but they were yet threatening the empire with increased force. The Hunas, who largely contributed to the downfall of the Roman empire and had threatened the integrity of Persia, were trying to penetrate deep into the Indian territories. Skanda Gupta valiantly fought them and defeated them somewhere in the northern valley of the river Ganges so severely about 460 A.D. that they could not dare to attack the empire for nearly the next fifty years. Skanda Gupta saved India from their barbarous atrocities when they were at the height of their power, and when they repeated their attacks after fifty years or so they were a spent-force and therefore, could not do much damage to India. We know about his success against the Hunas from the Junagarh-inscription. Skanda Gupta has been regarded as the last great Gupta ruler. Skanda Gupta had assumed the title of Vikramaditya which he rightly deserved. His pillar inscriptions at Bhitri and Kahoya describe that hundreds of rulers accepted his suzerainty.
Puru Gupta (467-469 A.D): Puru Gupta succeeded the throne after the death of his step-brother Skanda Gupta. Probably, he had to fight against Kumar Gupta-II, son of Skanda Gupta to get the throne. The military campaigns of Skanda Gupta had already taxed heavily the resources of the empire. These family feuds of the Guptas further weakened them. Besides, Puru Gupta had ascended the throne at a ripe age, died very shortly, and therefore, did nothing to check the decline of the empire.
Budha Gupta (477 to nearly 500 A.D): He ruled for about twenty years It seems that, in name, the Gupta Empire was yet intact but, in reality, the effective control of the Gupta monarch was very limited. Different rulers titled themselves as Maharajas within the legal boundaries of the Gupta Empire. It seems that provincial governors of Budha Gupta behaved as independent rulers and owed allegiance to the Emperor only in name. The family feuds of the Gupta princes and threatening invasions of the Hunas from the north-west and those of the Vakatakas from the south were beyond the control of Budha Gupta. It was sufficient for him that he could manage to keep intact at least the outward image of power and respect of the empire.
Extent of their empire & Patronage towards the Hindu religion
Samudra Gupta was a great general and conqueror. He created a big empire, assumed the titles of Maharajadhiraja and Vikramanka and performed one or even more Asvamedha sacrifices. His empire included almost the whole of Northern India, with the exclusion of Kashmir, Western Punjab, Western Rajputana, Sindh. N.W.F.P and Gujarat. But then it also included the highlands of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa with a long stretch of territory along the eastern coast extending as far south as Madras. During the Gupta empire, emperors used Hinduism as a unifying religion and helped popularize it by promoting educational systems that included Hindu teachings; they also gave land to brahmins. The Gupta emperors helped make Hinduism the most popular religion on the Indian subcontinent.
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Architecture style of the kings
The Guptas were the first architects of purpose-built Hindu (but sometimes also Buddhist) temples which evolved from the earlier tradition of rock-cut shrines. Adorned with towers and elaborate carvings, these temples were often dedicated to all the Hindu gods. Unfortunately, relatively few of the large number of Gupta temples built have survived. Gupta architecture is very diverse in style, design, and features. This very diversity illustrates that Hindu temple architecture was in its formative stage and was yet to arrive at the standardized situation of later centuries. Nevertheless, the influence of Gupta-era buildings on later Indian temple architecture is indisputable and continued right through to the Medieval period. Harisena encouraged a group of associates, including his prime minister Varahadeva and Upendragupta, the sub-king in whose territory Ajanta was, to dig out new caves, which were individually commissioned, some containing inscriptions recording the donation. This activity was mostly suspended in 468 because of threats from the neighboring Asmaka kings. For reasons that are not entirely clear, for the most part, the Gupta period represented a hiatus in Indian rock-cut architecture, with the first wave of construction finishing before the empire was assembled, and the second wave beginning in the late 5th century, just as it was ending. This is the case, for example, at the Ajanta Caves, with an early group made by 220 CE at the latest, and a later one probably all after about 460.
Key temples built/enhanced during this reign
Examples of early North Indian Hindu temples that have survived after the Udayagiri Caves in Madhya Pradesh include those at Tigawa (early 5th century), Sanchi Temple 17 (similar, but respectively Hindu and Buddhist), Deogarh, Parvati Temple, Nachna (465), Bhitargaon-the largest Gupta brick temple to survive, and Lakshman Brick Temple, Sirpur (600–625 CE). Gop Temple in Gujarat (c. 550 or later) is an oddity, with no surviving close comparator. There are several different broad models, which would continue to be the case for more than a century after the Gupta period, but temples such as Tigawa and Sanchi Temple 17, which are small but massively built stone prostyle buildings with a sanctuary and a columned porch, show the most common basic plan that is elaborated in later temples to the present day. The Chejarla Kapoteswara temple demonstrates that free-standing chaitya-hall temples with barrel roofs continued to be built, probably with many smaller examples in wood. The most famous remaining monuments in a broadly Gupta style, the caves at Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora (respectively Buddhist, Hindu, and mixed including Jain) were produced under other dynasties in Central India, and in the case of Ellora after the Gupta period, but primarily reflect the monumentality and balance of Guptan style. Ajanta contains by far the most significant survivals of painting from this and the surrounding periods, showing a mature form which had probably had a long development, mainly in painting palaces. The Hindu Udayagiri Caves record connections with the dynasty and its ministers and the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh is a major temple, one of the earliest to survive, with important sculpture, although it has lost its mandapa and covered ambulatory for parikrama.
DASHAVATARA TEMPLE - Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
The Dashavatara Temple is an early 6th century Vishnu Hindu temple which has a simple, one cell square plan and is one of the earliest Hindu stone temples still surviving today. The Temple was built out of stone and masonry brick and was built according to the third khanda of the Hindu text Vishnudharmottara Purana, which describes the design and architecture of the Sarvatobhadra-style temple, thus providing a floruit for the text and likely temple tradition that existed in ancient India. The ruined Dashavatara Temple was built during the 6th Century, Gupta period and the exterior walls all have carved wall panels that depict different myths related to Vishnu.
DHAMEK STUPA - Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Dhamek Stupa was originally constructed in 249 BCE later replaced in 500 CE by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty. The significance of this sacred place is that it marks the spot where Lord Buddha preached the first sermon to His five disciples after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Buddhist pilgrims from around the world visit Sarnath to circumambulate the holy Stupa and worship Lord Buddha. In 640 CE, the height of the Stupa to be around 91 m and mentioned the presence of 1500 priests in the colony. This massive Stupa is cylindrical and built with red bricks and stone with the lower part being entirely covered with aesthetically pleasing carved stones.
BHUMARA TEMPLE - Bhumara, Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Bhumara Temple is a 5th or 6th-century Gupta-era Hindu stone temple site dedicated to Shiva. The temple has a square plan with a sanctum and Mandapa and enough of the temple structure and artwork has survived for scholarly studies. The temple is notable as one of the early examples of an architecture that included an enclosed concentric pradakshina-patha (circumambulation path). Like other early Gupta era Hindu temples, it includes a decorated entrance to the sanctum flanked by Ganga and Yamuna goddesses and intricately carved sculptures. The temple's Ekamukha Linga, a mukhalinga or faced lingam, with a detailed head of Shiva, is a much-studied example of Gupta art. The temple reliefs include those for Mahishasura-Mardini (Durga), Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu, Yama, Kubera, Kartikeya, Surya, Kama, and others. The three outer walls of the sanctum lack any decoration chiseled to a smooth red sandstone. The side with an entrance into the sanctum is intricately carved and decorated and the sanctum door consists of a carved lintel, two carved jambs and a sill.
PARVATHI TEMPLE - Nachria Kathura, India
This is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi is one of the oldest temples of India belongs to the Gupta Period. This temple is one of the prototypal Hindu temple styles that has survived from ancient India. It includes the cubical sanctum, narrates spiritual legends with carvings of divine legends and secular themes in a certain sequence both outside and inside the temple. This is a two-story building with an almost perfect square plan thick-walled sanctum of 15 feet wide on the outside and is 8 feet sided square inside. The outer walls have perforated stone windows (trellises) to allow natural light in and the upper-story is relatively plain. It lacks a roof or tower, but the structure suggests that it was likely a flat roof temple. This style of construction is seen in a few early temples of this period.
LAKSHAMAN TEMPLE - Raipur, India
Pineapple-shaped Laxman Temple in Sirpur is one of the best examples of brick temples in India and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu dating back to 625-650 AD. The intricate carvings on the exterior of the temple make it special and these designs include Lord Vishnu, Krishna Leela symbols, Vaishnava Dwarpal, and pictures bearing resemblance to the famous erotic work as in the Khajuraho Temple. The ornately decorated walls and skillfully done work of the craftsmen reveal the diligent craftsmanship of the people during those days and has a fine entrance and the sides are adorned with erotic carvings.
BHITARGAON BRICK TEMPLE - Bhitargaon, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
This east facing temple is constructed on a square base with deep recesses and over the foundation of cell-like formations. The temple is constituted of a porch containing steps, Ardha-mandapa, antarala or passage, and garbha-griha (sanctum). The porch with its flight of six steps topped with an arched roof and it appears that the porch which was the entrance to Ardha-mandapa crumbled due to much deterioration. There are a total of 28 pilasters of represent the best specimens among their category even when this temple is the earliest such brick temple in this category of architecture. The pilasters are adorned with sixteen different components composed of a combination of ornamented and ordinary bricks. Probably the most interesting and important feature which makes this temple class apart from others is the presence of decorative terracotta panels across the walls and over the vimana.
GUPTA TEMPLE - Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India
This earliest example of religious architecture which typically had exteriors decorated with relief sculpture and a single carved doorway bears a date mark of 401 CE. These are the only site that can be verifiably associated with a Gupta period monarch from its inscriptions. The site has important inscriptions of the Gupta dynasty belonging to the reigns of Chandragupta II (c. 375-415) and Kumaragupta I (c. 415-55). In addition to these, Udayagiri has a series of rock-shelters and petroglyphs, ruined buildings, inscriptions, water systems, fortifications, and habitation mounds, all of which remain a subject of continuing archaeological studies. The Udayagiri Caves complex consists of twenty caves, of which one is dedicated to Jainism and all others to Hinduism. The Jain cave is notable for one of the oldest known Jaina inscriptions from 425 CE, while the Hindu Caves feature inscriptions from 401 CE.
AJANTA CAVES - Ajanta, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Ajanta Caves are Buddhist rock-cut cave temples and monasteries which were hollowed out of granite cliffs on the inner side of a 70-foot ravine in the Wagurna River valley are a site of great scenic beauty. Four of the later caves have large and relatively well-preserved mural paintings and represent "the great glories not only of Gupta but of all Indian art". Cave walls are depicted with Avalokitesvara, the story of Udayin and Gupta, the story of Nalagiri, the Wheel of life, a panel celebrating various ancient Indian musicians, and a panel that tells of Prince Simhala's expedition to Sri Lanka. The round pillars have floral reliefs and a fluted shaft topped with Buddha in its capitals. Next, to the Buddha in the capitals are elephants, horses, and flying apsara friezes found elsewhere in India, reflecting the style of the Gupta Empire artwork.
SHREE PASHUPATINATH MANDIR - Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Pashupatinath Temple at Mandsaur belongs to the Pashupatinath tradition which is one of 6 major traditions within Shaivism. The temple sculpture is dated to the 5th or 6th century based on inscriptions, with some referring to the site as Dashapura. The site's history is traceable to the 2nd-century CE and all include invocations to Hindu gods such as Vasudeva and Shiva in various forms. They mention kings of the Gupta Empire era, as well as temples of Dashapura. The eight face Shiva found in the reconstructed Pashupatinath temple is from the 1st millennium CE and a rare iconography.
BUDDHIST SITES - Devnimori in Gujarat and Mirpur Khas in Sind, India
Devnimori is a Buddhist archaeological site dated to the 3rd century or 4th century CE was associated with trade routes and caravans in the area of Gujarat. Site excavations have yielded Buddhist artifacts dated before 8th-century in the lowest layer, mixed Buddhist and Hindu artwork from the Gurjara-Pratihara period in the middle, topped by Muslim glazed ware attributed to the 14th century. The art of Devni Mori proves the existence of a pre-Gupta era Western Indian artistic tradition while Gupta art was influenced by the pre-Gupta era Western tradition and not much information is available about Mirpur Khas.
SANCHI BUDDHIST MONUMENTS - Sanchi, Vidisha, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, India
Sanchi temple of the Gupta period is a small temple built for almost 4 centuries and is an excellent example of simplicity and grandeur. The sanctuary courtyard is covered with stone masonry and the ceiling of the sanctum is slightly higher than the roof of the portico or hall. Through this provision is a safety measure of rainwater drainage and foundations and the four pillars are more compact and well carved. This temple is indeed of excellent times and is marked by grace, unity, symmetry, and glory very simple structure and carving and superb work is just on the joints of the roof and the beam. An inverted lotus is placed in the vertical pillar, the main and small lions are seated at the back, and a support between the roof and the pillar.
GOP TEMPLE - Gujarat, India
The Gop temple is a Sun temple dated to the 6th century and is one of the earliest surviving stone temples in Gujarat. The original temple had a square plan, a mandapa and covered circumambulation passage which are lost, and a pyramidal masonry roof which is ruined but whose partial remains have survived. The temple is an unusual architectural variation on the Nagara style and has resemblances with early Dravidian temples of Pattadakal and Aihole. The temple has chaitya-windows similar to the Uparkot caves of Junagadh but they had lost their use as vedika so they must have evolved later.
SRI KAPOTESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE - Chejarla, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Kapoteswara temple is one of the very earliest temples in Andhra Pradesh and its origin dates back to the third or fourth century A.D. The prime sanctum houses Lord Kapoteswara in the form of Shiva Linga. The barrel-vaulted Eka-tala vimanam is apsidal or Gaja-prishta vimanam with apsidal sala shikhara. It is believed by scholars that the vimana was originally Buddhist Chaitya and was modified for purposes of Shiva worship. The temple must have come into existence, at a period of mutual tolerance between Hinduism and Buddhism.
BADAMI CAVE TEMPLES - Badami, Karnataka, India
The construction of cave one and cave two has north Deccan style while cave three has the styles of Nagara and Dravida. Cave 3 is the earliest dated Hindu temple in the Deccan region and is the largest cave in the complex dedicated to Vishnu. The roof of the hall is divided into nine panels slightly above the level of the ceiling. The central panel here depicts a deva mounted on a ram – conjectured to be Agni. Images of Brahma and Varuna are also painted on the central panels; the floating figures are seen in the remaining panels. The cave shows many Kama scenes in pillar brackets, where a woman and a man are in courtship or mithuna (erotic) embrace. Aspects of the culture, cosmetics, and clothing in the 6th century are visible in the art sculpted in this cave, showing a sophisticated tradition. Though the exact date of the construction is not known but the inscription found in cave 3 shows that this cave was constructed by Mangalesha.
ELLORA CAVES - Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Ellora Caves is a cluster of 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km in an uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff. Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India. It was built during 757-783 AD by Krishna I who was the uncle of Dantidurga. Built during the 6th to 8th century in the Kalachuris period, the Hindu Caves were built in two phases and the caves 14, 15, 16 were built in the Rashtrakuta period.
JUNAGADH CAVE TEMPLE - Gujarat, India
Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups includes Uparkot Caves, Khapra Kodiya Caves, and Baba Pyare Caves. The so-called "Buddhist Caves'' are not caves, they are rock-cut quarters for the Buddhist monks that used to meditate here for a longer period. Since the interiors deteriorated with time, the quarters developed a cave-like appearance. It comprises the Khapra Kodiya Cave, Baba Pyaare Cave, and Uperkot Cave. These caves were carved starting from Emperor Ashoka's period up to the 1st-4th century AD. . It is the place where the inscriptions from the period of Ashoka, as a warrior king, can be found in Khapra Kodiya Cave. This cave narrates the tale of the earliest monastic settlement in Junagadh through the paintings made on the interior walls. Baba Pyaare Cave is dedicated to Buddhist art and culture. From the artistic style, it can be related to the times of the Satvahana clan & its rule in the region. This cave also depicts the arrival of the Chinese scholar Xuan Zang and his compilations. Uperkot Cave is the largest of all three caves and was primarily used for meditation by the monks.
BAGH CAVES - Madhya Pradesh, India
The Bagh Caves are the most exquisite sign of majestic Indian rock-cut architecture and are more than just sculptures of architecture present in the block mountain range of the Vindhyas. Bagh Caves were created sometime in between the years of 4th century CE and 6th century CE. They are believed to have been built by the Satavahana dynasty during the 5-7th century. Though the date of the Bagh inscription is missing, his Badwani copperplate inscription is dated in the year (Gupta era) 167.
NASHIK CAVES - Nashik, India
Pandavleni Caves or Trirashmi Caves are the ancient rock-cut caves situated on Trirashmi Hills are a holy Buddhist site carved between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD. These caves were built by the rulers of that time like Satavahanas and Kshaharatas for Hinayana Buddhist monks. The more ancient name of caves is Trirashmi Caves where the root 'Trirashmi' means 'triple royal'. These caves houses shrines, cisterns, rare inscriptions, carved figures of Buddha and Bodhisattva, along with icons of some of the Jain Tirthankaras like Vrishabhdeo, Ambikadevi, Veer Manibhadraji, etc. Cave 15 - 'Sri Yajna Vihar' inscription mentions Sri Yajna Satakarni, the last powerful Satvahana King who ruled over western Maharashtra.
MANDAPESHWAR CAVES - Borivali, Mumbai, India
The Mandapeshwar Caves is an 8th Century rock-cut shrine dedicated to Shiva that was created beginning in the late Gupta Empire or some time after. The Mandapeshwar caves are smaller and lesser which were originally cut by Buddhist monks. The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out at the same period as those seen in the more splendid Jogeshwari Caves. Mandpeshwer caves have sculptures of Nataraja, Sadashiva, and a splendid sculpture of Ardhanarishvara. It also has Ganesha, Brahma, and Vishnu statuettes. These works depicted the mythical tales of the Hindu gods and goddesses. Even today an elaborate sculpture representing the marriage of Shiva with Parvati may be viewed from the large square window at the south end of these caves. Most of what can be seen on the walls now are just broken down remains which are sad reminders of its glorious past.
KANKALI TEMPLE - Tigawa, Madhya Pradesh, India
The Kankali Devi Temple is one of the oldest temples of Devi Kali Maa known as one of the Shaktipeeth among Hindu pilgrims. Temples of medium size, 7 to 10 feet square, were covered on all sides with a doorway on the eastern sides, whereas the large temples, from 10 to 15 feet square, were having an additional portico in front. On the face of a pillar, the inscription mentions the visit of UmaDeva of Kanyakubja (Kanauj), son of Samanya Bhatta, to pay his devotion at the temple of Setabhadra (probably Svetabhadra). An image of Narasimha is placed inside the sanctum and the portico has an image of the Sheshashai Vishnu and another one of Chamunda (Kankali Devi). Attached to the temple is a large unusual Buddha-like image with snakes on the top. The portico was covered with walls containing panels during a later period. It is one of the few Gupta period temples that have survived and is very similar to the Gupta period temple at Sanchi.
MANIYAR MATH SHRINE - Rajgir, Bihar, India
Maniyar Math is called the Nirman Koop of Queen Chalanna & Sheelbhadra in Jain history. Ajatshatru's mother Chalanna was the princess of Videh (Vaishali). Maniyar Math is also believed to be the place of Yagna of the Buddhist era. It was constructed with cylindrical bricks and is an amazing example of the art of the Gupta period (320 - 550 AD). This place was built in the memory of Naga Salibadra and is said that he got his treasure buried in this well(seem to be constricted for religious and ritual purpose related to serpent worship). Due to statues of Lord Shiva & Nagas found at different times, it is believed that this place was an important place of Naga Worshipers in the Shaiv period. The main attraction is a well-like structure made of 1.20 meters. thick wall with a dia of 3 meters approx. The exterior provides niches containing 0.60 meters. high stucco images of a linga decorated with garland, four-armed Vishnu. Nagi-image, Ganesha Twisted with snakes around his body and six-armed dancing shiva. Unfortunately, most of the images have now disappeared from their art-style the images belong to the Gupta period, the Sth century A.D. The minor structures such as alter platforms and shines etc.
KHAJURAHO GROUP OF TEMPLES - Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments has the country's largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their erotic sculptures. It was specifically during the Gupta period that architecture and art began to flourish in the region although their successors continued the artistic tradition. The Khajuraho group of temples were built during the rule of the Rajput Chandela dynasty, they started building the complex as soon as they rose in power throughout their kingdom, which later came to be known as Bundelkhand. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture and the Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. This design plan has three important components – Mandala means circle, Purusha is universal essence at the core of Hindu tradition, while Vastu means the dwelling structure. The design lays out a Hindu temple in a symmetrical, concentrically layered, self-repeating structure around the core of the temple called garbhagriya, where the abstract principle Purusha and the primary deity of the temple dwell. The shikhara, or spire, of the temple, rises above the garbhagriya. This symmetry and structure in design is derived from central beliefs, myths, cardinality, and mathematical principles.
SHREE JAGANNATH TEMPLE COMPLEX - Puri, Odisha, India
The Shree Jagannath Temple is one of the most impressive monuments constructed by a famous king of the Ganga Dynasty Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva dating back to the 12th century at the seashore Puri. This is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, in Puri was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning the top is the 'srichakra' (an eight-spoked wheel) of Vishnu. Also known as the "Nilachakra", it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct. The pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in steps toward the tower like a ridge of mountain peaks.
Shree Jagannath Temple Complex
KONARK SUN TEMPLE - Konark, Puri, Odisha, India
Konark or the Sun temple is a 13th-century temple built in Konark by the Gupta Dynasty. The structures and elements that have survived are famed for their intricate artwork, iconography, and themes, including erotic kama and mithuna scenes. Also called the Surya Devalaya, it is a classic illustration of the Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga Architecture. Dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya, what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone. The temple that exists today was partially restored by the conservation efforts of British India-era archaeological teams. The interesting fact is that the Sun temple of Konark, The Puri Jagannath Temple, and The Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar form a bilateral triangle and the Konark temple is one Kone (angular point of a triangle). Thus the word 'Kone' has a meaning in making the nomenclature.
LINGARAJ TEMPLE - Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
Lingaraja Temple represents the quintessence of the Kalinga Architecture and culminates in the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar. Constructed in the 11th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva which was believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), Jaganmohan (assembly hall), Nata Mandira (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The main tower of this temple measures 180-feet in height and is built in red stone and is a classic example of the Kalinga style of architecture.
KANDARIYA MAHADEVI TEMPLE - Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India
The Kandariya Mahadeva temple was built during the reign of Vidyadhara (r. c. 1003-1035 CE). The Group of Monuments is famous for its exquisite sculptures and intricate carvings that depict various aspects of life and this is the largest, tallest, and the most ornate temple of the surviving temples at Khajuraho. This stunning temple is around 31m tall, and is one of the western groups of temples, apart from Matangeswara and Vishwanatha temples. Constructed on a plinth of 4m in height, this tall structure is built in the shape of a mountain, which is symbolic of Mount Meru. The temple has many interconnected chambers that can be visited in sequence. Ardhamandapa, the rectangular entrance hall leads to a central pillared hall called mandapa. The mandapa leads to a dark area called garbhagraha.
VIMALA, TEJPALA AND VASTUPALA TEMPLES - Dilwara, Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
The five Vasahi temples collectively known as the Dilwara Jain Temples(group of svetambara Jain temples ) are one of the world's most beautiful and sacred pilgrimages of Jains in the world built by the Chalukya dynasty. They date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous monuments in the style of MÄru-Gurjara architecture, famous for their use of a very pure white marble and intricate marble carvings. The earlier Vasahi temples were built about 1031, which is simpler and bolder in style by Vimal Shah, minister of the then Solanki ruler of Gujarat. The special feature of this temple is its ceiling which is circular in eleven richly carved concentric rings. The temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by a corridor, which has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the Tirthankaras, and the richly carved corridors, pillars, arches, and 'mandaps' or porticoes of the temple are simply amazing. Luna Vasahi has the main hall or Rang mandap featuring a central dome from which hangs a big ornamental pendant featuring elaborate carving. Arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankaras in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band. The Navchowki features some of the most delicate marble stone cutting work of the temple and the ceilings of the temple depict scenes of the life of Neminatha with an image of Rajmathi (who was to marry Neminatha) and Krishna.
MODHERA SUN TEMPLE - Modhera, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
The Modhera Sun Temple was made by King Bhima-I of the Chalukya dynasty in the early 11th century. It is a temple made to honor the Sun God. The temple is known for its impressive Kalinga architecture that includes a depiction of a 100 ft high chariot being pulled by horses and wheels carved out of a single stone and the monument portrays the imposing chariot of the sun god. The temple was so constructed that during every equinox, the first sun rays would fall on a diamond placed on the Sun God's head. And the entire temple would illuminate in a golden glow. On other days, two pillars before the garbhagriha would stay illuminated throughout the day, regardless of the position of the sun. However, the sabha mandap still stands on 52 pillars depicting the 52 weeks in a year. Carvings of the sun, along with its unity with the other 4 elements-air, water, earth, and space- can be spotted on the walls.
