The Structural Temples of Gujarat
by Kantilal F. Sompura | 1968 | 163,360 words
This essay studies the Structural Temples of Gujarat (Up to 1600 A.D.)....
Chapter 2 - Temples in Pre-historic and Proto-historic times
CHAPTER II AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE STRUCTURAL TEMPLES IN PRE-AND PROTO-HISTORIC TIMES (i) Prehistoric Times - Stone Ages. Archaeological explorations and excavations have unearthed the prehistory of Gujarat, from the stone Ages, especially in the Paleolithic Age and the Microlithic Age. But the remains. of these prehistoric cultures do not contain any structures that may be styled temples in the modern sense of the term. 1 (ii) Protohistoric Times. (a) Copper-Bronze Age The well excavated structural remains of this period are available in the form of some brick-built structures unearthed at Lothal in the Ahmedabad District. These remains seem to represent residential buildings, hardly containing remanants of any temple structures. Nor do the archaeological explorations and excavations disclosed at Rangapur, Somnatha, Rozadi, Bhagatarav and other sites in Gujarat show indications of any temple structures of this period. (b) Puranic Age. The traditional accounts, preserved in the Puranas (that appear of late origin in their extant form) record the existence of some temples in the time of Krisna-Vasudeva, 2 Aristnemi and Mahavirasvami. 3 1. Sanklia H. D , 'Investigation into Prehistoric Archaeology of Gujarat' & Subbarao B. The Personality of India. 2. Harivamsa, ch. 58 vv. 15, 16, (Ed. Kalayana) Jinaprabha Suri, 'Vividhatirthakalpa', (completed in V. S. 1389) Ujjayantamahatirthakalpa (Singhi Jain grantha mala no. 10) pp. 8-9. � Satrunjaya Mahatmya,' The tradition records that Dhanesvara Suri composed this work in V. S. 477 at Valabhipur (Jain Sahitya no Samkshipta Itihasa p. 134). But the work contains the account of Caulukya King Kumarapala (1144-74 A. D.), Bahada, Vastupala, Samarasa and others and so it is definite that the work is of later origin, probably composed during 14 th cent. A. D. (MG. p. 487) 3. Jinasena Suri Hari Vamsa Purana; (Composed in Saka i. e. A. D. 783-84) year 705;