The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c21.10

c21.10

But neither the spiritual and intellectual degeneracy of the times nor the frequent local wars caused any diminution in the activity of the builder. On the contrary, the enormous increase of monastic institutions and the encouragement of superstition by a crafty priesthood gave a great impetus to religious foundations, while the constant fighting made the fortification of towns and villages a necessity. Temple building also, by the very degeneracy of religious teaching, received an enormous increase. According to the true spirit of Indo-Aryan religion there were certain worshipful places marked out by nature as the dwellings of the gods, and the temples built there by man were but symbols of the divinity that was immanent in the site. But superstition encouraged the belief that temple building had a virtue of its own, and that the presence of the gods could be compelled by establishing earthly thrones for them in places where their presence was most needed. So every petty Râja who busied himself in robbing and killing his neighbour invoked the blessing of God upon his undertakings by providing sumptuous temples in his capital, or at the tîrth which his Brahman counsellors advised him to patronise, or by providing accommodation for the crowds of monks who were the parasites of every royal court.