ABSTRACT
In the previous two chapters – namely on sacred and settlement sites – the stress was on archaeological data pertaining mainly to religious structures in the region. The structures dating to the period under study are concentrated mainly in Saurashtra and do not account for the religious beliefs and practices for the entire region of Gujarat. It is here that sculptural finds and data are of great aid, for they are found in areas mostly devoid of architectural remains and prove to be the only indicators of religious beliefs, practices and religious developments for areas in Gujarat other than Saurashtra. They also make us aware that while studying sacred sites, it is important to look for indicators of heterogeneity and that the definition of sacred sites is not limited merely to temple structures and cave architecture. As has been rightly pointed out, ‘A sacred site is a place which is considered holy and is partially or wholly reserved for magico religious or ceremonial functions. Sacred sites can vary in size from very small places covering a few square metres to large areas covering several hectares of land. They are usually characterized by the presence of artefacts, eco facts and features that are unique to them; they may be in open air, or in rock shelters, caves and forests.’ 1 It is exactly this variation in size and types of sacred sites that this chapter aims to bring out with the aid of the vast pool of sculptural data available from the region. These images have not been utilised to attempt a reconstruction of the different types of sacred sites existing in Gujarat, and neither do they feature in a comparative analysis to bring forth diversity and uniqueness within different zones (Saurashtra, North and Central Gujarat and South Gujarat) of Gujarat. The first evidence to demonstrate this diversity in the worship of deities and their forms, as well as the existence of sacred architecture, is from coins termed as the Saurashtra janapada coins.
