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The aim of Hinduism is the discovery of the true nature of the self
(atman) and the true nature of the undifferentiated eternal principle
of existence, which is Brahman.
Brahma- creator god
The rise of the Kushan in the north displaced the Andhra, whose
successors set up the Later Andhra kingdom in the region of
Amaravati on the southeast coast. Both the Kushan and the Andrha
were subsumed under the Gupta power in the early fourth century.
In the sixth century a new and important dynasty began to emerge to
the south of that region. It was the Pallava.
The Pallava capital was at Kanchipuram ( Conjeeveram). On the
coast, at the site of Mamallapuram, during the reign of
Narasimhavarman, some of the most remarkable works of the
period were created.
During the reign of Narasimhavarman
some of the most remarkable works
were created. The coast is strewn with
huge boulders and rounded
outcroppings of granite, which were
carved into sculptured temples. The
engaged pilasters with their elongated
shafts and brackets are clearly derived
from a tradition of wood construction.
In wooden buildings, they would
probably have been fully rounded
pillars, but in stone they seem too thin
to support the superstructure of the
tiered roofs so they have been treated as
pilasters.
The Temples are raised on short bases,
and the silhouette of these roofs forms a
straight line from the corner to the
spire. When the plans are rectangular
rather than square, the roofs are not
straight-sided but rather curved so as to
reflect the exterior shape of the barrel-
Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots), Mahabalipuram,
India
Bhima Rath, Mamallapuram, Rock-cut temple
Dharmaraja Rath,
Mamallapuram, Rock-cut
temple
Hindu Deities
Shiva Ardhinari
Durga attacking buffalo demon, Mamallapuram,
Mahisha Mandapam, Rock-cut relief
The goddess Durga
Durga victorious,
Mamallapuram
-Islam is monotheistic, with the belief that “there is no god but Allah
and Mohammad is His prophet.”