3 Review(s)

Written as a thesis for a doctorate in philosophy, this book contains original deductions upon already known facts. It traces, step by step, the evolution of the south Indian temple. In this work the author has attempted to show that the Hindu temple is not modelled on the Buddhist Stupa, and that it existed anterior to the stupa; and that in fact, it served as a model to the early domical stupa which in the course of the ages became a tower. The book has 15 chapters that discuss the Sacred Tree, pre historic graves, the stone ring, the Toda and other primitive temples, the vimana, the chaitya etc. Accompanying the text are 19 illustrations. This book is a reprint of the 1930 edition.