Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c57.7

v1.c57.7

All these three names illustrate also the gradual evolution of this type. The primitive cave-shrines at places like Khandagiri, Udaigiri etc. are illustrative of the Layana-Prāsādas, the caves of Ajanta may be taken to illustrate the Guhādharā Prāsādas and the cave-temples of Ellora and Mamamalapuram being the finest specimens of rock-cut-architecture illustrate the zenith of this type, the Guhārāja, like the Prāsādarāja Meru which illustrates the finest and the grandest representation of Śikharottama Prāsādas taking their motifs from the Mountains, the specimens of which will be taken up in due course in this study. With this general introduction let us take these momuments one by one.