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Hinduism: What Really Happenned in India (PDF) - Oration

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<strong>H<strong>in</strong>duism</strong>: <strong>What</strong> <strong>Really</strong> Happened <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong> – M. M. N<strong>in</strong>an<br />

196<br />

The ealiest “H<strong>in</strong>du” Temple is found <strong>in</strong> Tigawa, near modern Jabalpur.<br />

This has all the ma<strong>in</strong> characteristics of early H<strong>in</strong>du temples - an <strong>in</strong>ner<br />

garba-griha ( sanctum Sanctorum correspond<strong>in</strong>g to the Madbaha of the<br />

Eastern Churches – the Holy of Holies ) surrounded by an ambulatory<br />

path or cella, an outer portico with columns <strong>in</strong> the front, and above all, a<br />

flat roof of stone. This is dated <strong>in</strong> the Gupta Period (AD 350-650). This<br />

is the simplest of early structures that may be called a temple with<br />

“H<strong>in</strong>du” <strong>in</strong>fluence.<br />

Neither temples nor idols of modern <strong>H<strong>in</strong>duism</strong> are found anywhere prior<br />

to this period. The only forms of religion prior to this period were<br />

Vedism, Buddhism and Ja<strong>in</strong>ism apart from probable local cults.<br />

As time passed these temple structures got more elaborate and <strong>in</strong>tricate.<br />

Sadashiva Murthy <strong>in</strong> the Elephanta Caves off Bombay with its<br />

three faces - Tatpurusha-Mahadeva (center), Vamadeva-Uma<br />

(fem<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>e - right side), Aghora-Bhairava (Mascul<strong>in</strong>e Fierce - left<br />

side) is heavily rem<strong>in</strong>iscent of Hebrew Kabballa. These caves are<br />

thought to date back to the Silhara k<strong>in</strong>gs of the 9th through 12th<br />

centuries A.D. Some date it to 600 AD.

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