Gujarat

• One of the richest and most prolific developments of Indo-Aryan style of architecture.
• Majority of building were erected in the interim of over two and half centuries between Mahmud of
Ghazni’s expedition to Somnath in Kathiawar in A.D. 1025-26.
• The settled state of the country was largely due to stable rule of the Solanki dynasty, a Saivite line whose
power extended over a large area centering around Gujarat.
• Much later, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, a devastating earthquake, wrought indescribable
havoc over, reducing to their present damaged state those building which age and the invaders had
spared.
• But from the remains and other buildings still preserved, it is clear that the Gujarati craftsmen had
inherited an artistic capacity, rich and deep, and their productions are ripe examples of this innate
architectural genius.
• In the preparation of these monuments they received the support and patronage of the people to the
fullest extent, for not satisfied with mere stone, the growing opulence of the inhabitants was poured out
into erection of temples built entirely of white marble, having every surface moulded into religious forms
mingled with luxuriant fancies.
• Even these magnificent tokens of the material resources and passionate devotion were insufficient to
express adequately the spiritual consciousness of the time, so that it became the custom to encrust
with gems and precious stones, not only the images, but also their canopies and shrines.
• Although many of these building undertakings were directly inspired by the Solanki rulers themselves,
some of the finer efforts appear to have been due to the patronage of their ministers and governors,
who more often than not were prominent member of the jain faith and who used their wealth
unstintingly and with marked broadmindedness in erecting temples, both Jain and Hindu.
• Twp of these exalted personages, the brothers Vastupala and Tejapala who attained to power in the
first half of thirteen century, may, in certain respect, be referred to as the “Indian Medicis”, for as
politicians, bankers, and merchant princess, they used their influence and accumulated resources in
much the same manner.
• Yet there seems little doubt that like many mediaeval, masterpiece, the Solanki temples were not the
produce of one mind, or even a group of minds, but were the spontaneous expression of the entire
community.
• Each member of the community had also a material share in the
production, as is proved by inscriptional records, for these state that
there prevailed a system corresponding to the offering of “first fruits”
to the deity of the ancients, or the “titches” of Christendom, in which
each person subscribed according to his capacity.
• As a beginning substantial grants of money or revenue from lnd were
provided by the ruler or his ministes, after which we learn that the
head men ordered “ a great assembly on market day and came to an
agreement to set apart for the god certain taxes.