[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c33.29 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c33.29 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c33.29 - **Language:** English ### [c33.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33.29) During the two centuries of the rule of the early Chalukya dynasty of Vātāpi, great changes in the religious state of the country were in progress. Buddhism, although still influential, and supported by a considerable section of the population, was slowly declining, and suffering gradual supersession by its competitors, Jainism and Brahmanical Hinduism. The sacrificial form of the Hindu religion received special attention, and was made the subject of a multitude of formal treatises. The Purānic forms of Hinduism also grew in popularity; and everywhere elaborate temples dedicated to Vishnu, Siva, or other members of the Purānic pantheon, were erected; which, even in their ruins, form magnificent memorials of the kings of this period. The orthodox Hindus borrowed from their Buddhist and Jain rivals the practice of excavating cave-temples; and one of the earliest Hindu works of this class is that made at Bādāmi in honour of Vishnu by Mangalesa Chalukya, at the close of the sixth century. Jainism was specially popular in the Southern Marāthā country.¹ The religion of Zoroaster was introduced into India during the eighth century. The first colony of Parsee emigrants from Khurāsān which settled on the Indian mainland was established at Sanjān in the Thāna District, Bombay, in A. D. 735.² - [Previous: c33.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33.28) - [Next: c33.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33.30) - [Up: c33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c33.29) · Pramāṇa