History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s17.26

v2.c33.s17.26

The great interest, however, of this little temple arises from the fact that it almost certainly succeeded immediately to Boro-Budur. If it is correct to assume A.D. 650-750 as the period during which that temple was erected, this one must have been built between A.D. 750 and A.D. 800. It shows, too, a progress in design at a time when Buddhist art in India was marked by decay; and it exhibits such progress in mythology, that though there can be no doubt as to the purity of the Buddhism of Boro-Budur, any one might fairly argue that this temple belonged either to that religion or to Hinduism. It is in fact one of those compromises that in India might be called Jaina; in other words, one of those transitional examples of which we have many in Jâva, but the want of which leaves such a gap in our history of architecture in India.¹