Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c39.11

c39.11

Some of this sudden progress in the architectural evolution of the country was undoubtedly due to the inspiration and forceful personality of one of Kashmir's greatest rulers. Lalitaditya (724-760), who among other notable activities, encouraged with outstanding impartiality both Buddhism and Brahmanism by the foundation of imposing monuments dedicated to each creed It is scarcely likely, however, even with the incentive of this powerful monarch, that buildings in such a form can have been entirely self-originated, nor do they appear to have been derived from a similar movement in India proper although, at a slightly earlier date, under the Guptas, buildings of massive ashlar masonry had been erected in many parts of the adjacent plains of Hindustan. And in spite of indications of influence from such a direction having been identified in the sculpture of Kashmir, there is apparently little or no affinity between the two architectural styles; each is obviously the result of a different sequence of experiences Moreover, Lalitaditya's masons showed a much more profound knowledge of the building art than that ever acquired by the Indian craftsmen of the Gupta regime.