The present book deals with the evolution of divergent architectural styles in the long tradition of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples. As such it is not a comprehensive history of architecture with pretensions to any startling conclusions or arguments. The format of research dissertations has not been followed to avoid a lifeless documentation of monuments. However, the author has mad use of the latest research publications available on the subject. The book aims at presenting systematically relevant information on various architectural styles-Rock-cut, Nagara, Dravidian and Vesara. The discerning reader would find analysis of these stylistic features of great help in appreciating the great monuments and also comprehending the aesthetic considerations inspiring structures of such tremendous beauty. The theme of the present study is limited only to traditions of sacred architecture in India. Themes like religion and social history, though very relevant to our subject, have been touched upon but briefly. The number of research books on architecture is quite large and classic works of scholars like James Fergusson and Percy Brown are still being read, admired and much criticized. Such works and many others have the stamp of erudition and strong opinion. This is a modest work, result of admiration for the great Indian heritage of architecture. The architectural history of the country, beginning from the Harappan period in the pre-Christian Era upto nearly the 15th and 16th centuries CE is too vast a subject to be covered satisfactorily in a single volume. Hence it was inevitable to be very selective. Still nothing of any real importance has been left out. There is no intention to parade erudite scholarship but only to say in simple words, in a language spoken and understood by the common reader “what oft was thought I but never so well expressed†(Alexander Pope).
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