The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c14.5

c14.5

The apparent anomaly, which has confused Fergusson and many others, is that a Vishnu shrine is not necessarily Vaishnavaite in the sectarian sense, but only one that is dedicated to the Vaishnava aspect of Brahmâ, Buddha, or Siva, as the case may be. Similarly, a Siva shrine may be Saivaite, Buddhist, or Vaishnavaite. Fergusson did not perceive that throughout all these sectarian changes there prevailed the great architectural tradition which was Indo-Aryan, and that these symbols represent philosophical concepts accepted by all the chief schools of Indo-Aryan religion.