The Archaeology of the Natha Sampradaya in Western India, 12th to 15th Century

This book studies Natha Sampradaya through archaeological evidence for the first time. Drawing on a pioneering approach to the study of ascetic traditions, it investigates not only the nature of the Sampradaya's religious architecture but also examines the extent to which they shared space with other religious groups -- such as the devotees of Siva and Sakti, Buddhism, and Islam, especially with the Sufi tradition. Focusing on western India, the book sifts through a variety of archaeological evidence and documentation of their temples, caves, and mathas. It critically analyses iconographic representations of ascetics on temple walls and sculptural representations of yogic postures or asanas. Further, these representations are discussed within a pan-South Asian framework to highlight both the commonalities of the tradition across the subcontinent but also regional specificities, along with their chronological spread. Breaking new ground, this volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of religion, especially Hinduism, history, archaeology, and South Asian studies.