Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s3.2

v2.c75.s3.2

The Religious and Philosophical Background:—Before we proceed with the salient elements of Buddhist iconography, a few words on its background, the institution of adoring the ‘Buddha’ and the consequent rise of religious and philosophical thoughts to systematise this practise in a religion which originally was averse to all such complications of theology, ritual, dogma and philosophy. The lofty ethical foundations of the prinstine Buddhism could not remain isolated. An edifice of grand superstrcture of imposing lustre shining with so many popular lights was a historical necessity. A religion divested of popular appeal can not captivate the minds of people for long. Consequently after the Buddha was gone, Buddhisim could not remain uncoloured with the side-currents of Brahmanic (more particularly the Tāntric) religious upsurages of the day, the adoration of the images (cf. Paurāṇic Dharma) and the cultivation of the Sākta practices (Cf. Tāntricism).