Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c15.63

v2.c15.63

The Vaidikas at first never paid so much attention to the details of temple building, setting up in them of innumerable images and performing pompous ceremonials, but had one or two small images in their own houses their *iṣṭa devatās* and *kula devatās*, and they were enjoined to meditate in silence upon the Supreme Brahman as residing in the image; they took to resorting to temples and attending to elaborate ceremonials held in them at a later stage when the avaidika cults were purged of their objectionable practices. And when the non-Aryan Śiva was beyond contention welded on the Aryan Rudra or Agni, even *liṅga* worship was adopted by the Vaidikas as identical with the worship of Rudra or Agni and at the present time all Vaidika or Smārta Brāhmaṇas are worshipping the *linga* and are even seen dancing and making *huḍukkāra* noise while worshipping in temples, a strange survival of the Pāśupata customs.