Editing Architecture of India (section)

==Gupta architecture==
[[File:Deogarh01.jpg|thumb|[[Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh]] is a Vishnu Hindu temple built during the early 6th century, near the end of the Gupta period.]]
The Gupta period chiefly represented a hiatus in [[Indian rock-cut architecture]]; the first wave of construction was completed before the empire was assembled, and the second wave began in the late 5th century, after its end. For example, an early group of the [[Ajanta Caves]]  was crafted by 220 CE and a later group was made around 460 CE.<ref>Ajanta chronology is still under discussion, but this is the view of Spink, accepted by many.</ref> Nonetheless, most of the first surviving free-standing structures in India are accredited to the Gupta period, in particular, the beginnings of [[Hindu temple architecture]]. As [[Milo Beach]] writes, "Under the Guptas, India was quick to join the rest of the medieval world in a passion for housing precious objects in stylized architectural frameworks",<ref>[[Milo Beach|Beach, Milo]], ''Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India'', (Photographs by Morna Livingston), p. 25, 2002, Princeton Architectural Press, {{ISBN|1568983247}}, 9781568983240, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KoVCliqcmIIC&pg=PA25 google books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603192521/https://books.google.com/books?id=KoVCliqcmIIC&pg=PA25 |date=3 June 2023 }}</ref> the "precious objects" primarily suggesting the icons of gods.

The caves at [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], including [[Elephanta Caves|Elephanta]] and [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]] (respectively Buddhist, Hindu, mixed, and Jain) were produced under other <!-- "other" - which exactly? --> dynasties in Central India. Ellora was made after the Gupta period, yet they primarily reflect the monumentality and balance of Guptan style. The Ajanta Caves contain the most significant and mature survivals of painting and the periods, mainly in palace paintings.{{sfn|Harle|1994|pp=118–22, 123–26, 129–35}} The Hindu [[Udayagiri Caves]] record connections with the dynasty and its ministers,{{sfn|Harle|1994|pp=92–97}} and the [[Vishnu Temple, Deogarh|Dashavatara Temple]] at [[Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh|Deogarh]], one of the earliest to survive, showcases important sculpture.<ref>Harle, 113–114; see also site entries in Michell (1990)</ref>

North Indian Hindu temples that have survived after the 5th century [[Udayagiri Caves]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]] include those at [[Tigawa]] (early 5th century),<ref>Michell (1990), 192</ref> [[Sanchi]] Temple 17 (similar, but respectively Hindu and Buddhist), Deogarh, [[Nachna Hindu temples|Parvati Temple, Nachna]] (465),<ref name=meister370>Michael Meister (1987), Hindu Temple, in ''The Encyclopedia of Religion'', editor: Mircea Eliade, Volume 14, Macmillan, {{ISBN|0-02-909850-5}}, page 370</ref> [[Bhitargaon]], the largest Gupta brick temple to survive,<ref>Michell (1990), 157; Michell (1988), 96</ref> <!-- [[Lalitpur District, India|Lalitpur District]] (c. 525), where exactly???  --> and [[Sirpur Group of Monuments#Hindu monuments|Lakshman Brick Temple, Sirpur]] (600–625). [[Gop Temple]] in [[Gujarat]] (c. 550 or later) is an oddity, with no surviving close comparator.<ref>Harle, 111–113, 136–138; Michell (1988), 90, 96–98; see also site entries in Michell (1990)</ref>

There are a number of broad models of Guptan-style temples, however, the most common plan exemplifies small but massively built stone [[prostyle]] buildings with a sanctuary and a columned porch, apparent at Tigawa and Sanchi Temple 17 and continued today. Both temples have flat roofs over the sanctuary, which would become uncommon by about the 8th century, as seen in the design of the [[Mahabodhi Temple]], Bhitargaon, Deogarh and Gop, with high superstructures of different shapes.<ref>Harle, 111–113; Michell (1988), 94–98</ref> The [[Chejerla, Guntur district|Chejarla Kapoteswara temple]] further demonstrates the continuance of free-standing [[chaitya]]-hall temples with barrel roofs, with many smaller wooden examples.<ref>Harle, 175</ref>

<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
File:Sanchi temple 17.jpg|A [[tetrastyle]] [[prostyle]] [[Gupta period]] temple at [[Sanchi]] beside the Apsidal hall with [[Maurya]] foundation. An example of [[Buddhist architecture]] from the 5th century.
File:Tigowa 1999 Kankali-Devi-Tempel.jpg|The Hindu [[Tigawa]] Temple from the early 5th century.
File:Mahabodhitemple.jpg|The current structure of the [[Mahabodhi Temple]] dates to the Gupta era in the 5th century. It marks the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
File:Vishnu temple mandapa at Eran, Madhya Pradesh.jpg|Vishnu temple in [[Eran]] from the 5th-6th century.
File:KITLV 87946 - Unknown - Pataini temple in British India - 1897.tif|alt=Pataini temple is a Jain temple built during the Gupta period, 5th century.|[[Pataini temple]] is a Jain temple built during the Gupta period in the 5th century.<ref>{{cite book | last=Cunningham | first=Alexander | author-link=Alexander Cunningham | title=Report of a Tour in the Central Provinces in 1873-74 and 1874-75 | volume=9 | series=Archaeological Survey of India | publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing | year=1879 | url={{Google books|X88OAAAAQAAJ|page=31|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} | page=31}}</ref>
File:Kakandi.jpg|Relief of [[Jain]] [[tirthankara]] [[Parshvanatha]] on the [[Kahaum pillar]], erected by a person named Madra during the reign of [[Skandagupta]] in 461.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Tej Ram |title=Personal and Geographic Names in Gupta Inscriptions |date=1978 |page=93 |url=https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/book_archive/196174216674_10151812362491675.pdf |access-date=7 September 2023 |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223224759/https://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org/book_archive/196174216674_10151812362491675.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Eran Budhagupta pillar built circa 476–495 CE.jpg|The [[Buddhagupta]] pillar at Eran (c.476–495)
</gallery>