THE VISHNU TEMPLE: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chandra, M.R. Vakataka Gupta Age: 200 to 500 A.D. New Delhi, India: Motilal
Banarsidass
Publishers, 2006. 230 pgs.

M.R. Chandra, professor of ancient Indian history at the University
of New Delhi, examines the political, cultural and religious history of
ancient India during the Gupta Period, 320 to circa 600 A.D., a time when
India was flourishing under a resurgence of Hinduism as opposed to it
religious rival Buddhism. This period, as Chandra so brilliantly explores
in this book, produced some of the finest Indian architecture of all time,
particularly the Vishnu Temple at Deogarh in north central India which
Chanda maintains served as the foundation for all Hindu temples that
followed.
Hinds, Kathryn. India's Gupta Dynasty. New York: Benchmark Books, 1996. 145
pgs.

In this well-researched book, Kathryn Hinds, professor of ancient
history at Yale University, examines the cultural and artistic significance
of the Gupta Dynasty, beginning in 320 A.D. and up until the emergence of
the Pallava Period, circa 600 A.D. Hinds also includes a rather lengthy
discussion on Hindu temples and how they were constructed and designed with
the Vishnu Temple at Deogarh serving as the main focus.
Vats, Madho Sarup. The Gupta Temple at Deogarh. New Delhi, India:
Archeological Survey
of India, 2000. 56 pgs.

In this heavily researched work, Madho Sarup Vats, one of modern
India's best scholars on Indian archeology, discusses in great depth the
Vishnu Temple at Deogarh and includes chapters on its history,
construction, design and cultural significance to the people of the Gupta
Period. Vats also includes several archeological diagrams which shows the
Vishnu Temple from numerous perspectives and what the current Indian
government is doing to preserve this temple form the ravages of time.

Vidula, Jayaswal. Royal Temples of the Gupta Period. New Delhi, India:
Aryan Books
International, 2001. 213 pgs.

Much like Vat's The Gupta Temple at Deogarh, this elaborately
illustrated book discusses a number of Hindu temples designed and
constructed during the Gupta Period, such as the rock-cut temple at
Mahabalipuram of the 7th century A.D., the Muktesvar Temple at Orissa,
circa 950 A.D. and of course the great Vishnu Temple at Deogarh. Vidula
also explores the archeological significance of this temple and offers some
new perspectives on how and why it was constructed.