Periodisation of Rock-cut Monuments of India

This monograph is meant for advanced researchers of South Asian architecture of the ancient times. Here you will find a novel periodisation system to better understand how the rock-cut architecture developed across time.Many unknown and lesser known facts will be found here suggesting that the rock-cut monuments of India developed through eight periods and five intervals. Data and interpretations will be found that indicate that on several junctures the Deccani rock-cut art and architecture were inspired by some compelling Gandhāran ideas.There were also some junctures when Deccani ideas inspired the developments in other lands, such as Kucha in Central Asia. It is also revealed how the early Kuchean ‘central pillar caves’ inspired the later developments in the Buddhist caves of Aurangabad and the Śaivite cave temples of Konkan and the Deccan.The periodisation system may be useful when no other reliable data such as inscriptions are available.