Visitors to this temple must have marveled at the artistic skill on display and delighted in the images of familiar stories and beloved deities.
600-1200 CE South Asia
The caves at Ellora are affiliated with three of India’s religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
The multireligious caves at Ellora
These 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff
Ellora caves
Evidence of the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century onwards, Somapura Mahavira, or the Great Monastery, was a renowned intellectual centre until the 12th century
Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
At 216 feet high, the Rajarajesvara temple is a sight to behold.
Rajarajesvara temple, Tanjavur
[…]
Three Hindu gods
Was the 10th century Chola queen, Sembiyan Mahadevi, so beloved, she was depicted as a goddess?
Queen or goddess?
The great goddess Durga slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura in a 7th century rock-cut temple in Mamallapuram, India.
Durga Slays the Buffalo Demon at Mamallapuram
A temple with three shrines, this majestic complex faces the sea and features a rich sculptural program.
Shore Temple, Mamallapuram
This extraordinary carving is one of the largest relief sculptures in the world. Scholars still debate its meaning.
The Great Relief at Mamallapuram
Beautiful women and loving couples adorn this temple. Together, they symbolize fertility, growth, and divine union.
Sacred space and symbolic form at Lakshmana ...
Caught in a moment of his dance, this many-limbed figure embodies Hindu ideals of beauty and physical perfection.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
