This interpretation could explain the use of brick in the temple of Bhitargaon, built in the 5th century, a period when one of the symbolic connotations of a temple consciously included the idea of an altar. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The worship of the living ascetic, a tradition deeply rooted in Indian culture, influenced early temple architecture. Cave 10 at Kondivate, where the Buddha is represented by a stupa, and housed inside a likeness of a hut in stone.