The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.13

v1.c11.13

**Hinduism** : The temples of the Devas noticed by Hiouen Thsang were probably mostly Śivaite, for it was during the two centuries preceding his travels in India that the new impulse given to the worship of the Dread Destroyer, Rudra, by the Keśari dynasty, had manifested itself by raising to the honor of Śiva several lofty temples which preceded the completion of the great tower of Bhuvaneśvara. Seeing, however, that some of the Gupta Rājās were at least three centuries before followers of the Vaiṣṇava faith at Eran and Allahabad, it would not be presumptuous to conclude that that form of Hinduism was, likewise, known and practised by some of the Uriyās. Exception might doubtless be taken to the conclusion on the ground of no trace of its existence at the time having yet been met with. But such a line of argument would serve only to defeat itself; for it might be made to apply to Vedic Hinduism of which no tangible relics are extant, and written history, even such as are accessible, will easily set aside the objection in either case.