Question

‘‘Different ideas, sculptures and temples developed in the Puranic Hinduism from c. 600 BCE – 600 CE.’’ Substantiate the statement.

Answer 1

‘‘Different ideas, sculptures and temples developed in the Puranic Hinduism from 600 BCE – 600 CE.’’

• Before puranic traditions, there were vedic traditioms in which primary deities were Indra and Surya.
• In between 600 BCE - 600 CE, growth of puranic traditions were seen.
• Puranic traditiom includes Vaishnavism where Vishnu was deity and came to earth in 10 different avatars to protect earth from evil forces, disorder and destruction.
• Different avatars are famous in different part of the country.
• Other tradition was shaivism where Shiva was principal deity. Shiva was worshipped by people in the form of Linga and also in human forms.
• Puranic tradition also showed people to worship goddess which were associated to God their wife.
• Puranic text written in Sanskrit.
• Therefore, Brahmans orally transmitted text to people who did not have access to Vedic learning.

Answer 2

Answer:Development of different ideas, sculptures and temples in Puranic Hinduism during 600 BCE-600 CE:

i. The idea of a deity being a savior developed in Puranic

Hinduism. These included Vaishnavism, Shaivism and worship of

Goddess

1. Emphasis on the worship of a chosen deity and bond between the

devotee and the God was one of love and devotion or Bhakti

iii. Vaishnavism- cult developed around the 10 avatars or incarnations of Vishnu.

iv. Vishnu assumed an incarnation to save the world whenever it was

threatened by evil forces

v. Different avatars were popular in different parts of the country but recognizing all of them as a form of Vishnu created a more unified

religious tradition

vi. The deities were represented in sculptures. Shiva was generally

symbolized by the linga. The sculptures depicted complex set of ideas

about deities and their attributes through symbols as head dress,

weapons etc

vii. The sculptures are best understood when one is familiar with stories

behind them

vii.

Puranas evolved through interaction amongst priests,

merchants and ordinary people. They were written in simple Sanskrit Verse and were read aloud to everybody including woman and shudras

who did not have any access to Vedic learning

ix. Around this time early temples with a small square room called Garbhagriha having single doorway were built eg Deogarh temple in

UP

Gradually tall structure Shikhara was built over the central shrine.

Temple was decorated with sculptures Later assembly halls, huge walls gateways and arrangement for supplying water were added to

them

xi. Some of the early temples carved out of huge rocks as artificial caves

xIi. Later an entire temple (Kailashnatha) was carved out of a single piece

of rock

Any other relevant point