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 Natha 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 mähas. 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 and the 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.

Vijay Sarde, PhD, is an archaeologist working on ancient and medieval religious art and architecture in India. His doctorate from the Deccan College PGRI, Pune is on Archaeological Investigations of the Natha sampradaya in Maharashtra (c. 12th to 15th century CE). He has participated in several excavations and explorations in western India and has published research papers in English, Marathi and Hindi. Presently, he is working as an independent researcher in archaeology and history.

1. Introduction 2. Early Marathi Literature: Beginnings of the Natha Tradition 3. The Archaeological Evidence: Sacred Landscapes in Western India 4. The Iconography of Devotion: Images of Natha Yogis in Context 5. Hähayoga: The Visual Record 6. Conclusion