With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements : 1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. 2. It is the only circular temple built in India. 3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region. 4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Gives a clear example where a temple (a Durga temple at Aihole) was built on the model of a Buddhist chaitya and stands on a raised platform in the form of a semi-circle, showing circular/curvilinear temple plans existed.

A student could use this example plus a regional map/dates to ask whether the circular form appears in central India and whether Kachchhapaghata-era sites show similar plans.

States the general early-temple pattern: the early temple was a small square garbhagriha, indicating that non-square plans were exceptions rather than the rule.

A student could use this rule to treat a circular plan as an architectural exception and therefore seek specific inscriptions or archaeological reports tying that exception to the Kachchhapaghatas.

Describes features of early and later temple forms (shikhara over central shrine, carved walls, cave/chaitya traditions), suggesting continuity from rock-cut/chaitya forms to later plans.

A student might connect chaitya-derived curved plans to a circular Chausath Yogini design and then check whether such chaitya-derived forms occur in Morena/Kachchhapaghata contexts.

Notes that regional dynasties (e.g., Chandelas) built major temple complexes, implying that identifying the patron dynasty for a temple requires matching regional dynastic activity and temple typology.

A student could compare the geographic and chronological range of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty with known dynastic temple-building patterns to judge the plausibility of their patronage of the Morena temple.

Describes a Durga temple at Aihole built on the model of a Buddha chaitya standing on a raised platform in the form of a semi-circle, showing non-rectangular/ non-square temple plans existed.

A student could use this example to argue circular or curvilinear plans were used elsewhere and then check site lists/maps (e.g., Aihole, other chaitya-influenced sites) for additional rounded-plan temples.

States early temples were often a small square garbhagriha but also notes evolving temple forms, implying a variety of plans developed over time.

From the pattern of evolving plans, a student could survey regional temple typologies (using basic references or maps) to see if circular plans appear in other regions/periods.

Contrasts temple shapes at Aihole by naming a rectangular temple (Huccimalligudi), indicating that specific shapes were recognized and recorded, so shape uniqueness can be checked by comparing documented forms.

A student could compile documented temple shapes from known sites (Aihole as example) to test whether any other circular-plan temples are recorded.

Notes that some temples were hollowed out of huge rocks (artificial caves) and illustrates diverse construction techniques—another indicator that plan shapes varied with tradition.

One could extend this by examining rock-cut complexes (e.g., Sanchi, Ellora) on a map for circular/ambulatory plans or chaitya halls with curved ends.

Describes the large number and variety of rock-cut cave temples at Ellora carved by multiple dynasties, implying architectural diversity across sites and patrons.

Use the documented diversity at multi-site complexes like Ellora as a rationale to search other major temple complexes for circular-plan examples via site catalogues or maps.

States a general pattern that rulers built and promoted temples to associate themselves with the divine and to win support, making temple-building an instrument of spreading particular religious affiliations.

A student could seek whether local rulers or patrons linked to the Chausath Yogini temple had known Vaishnava affiliations or used the temple for political-religious legitimation.

Notes that dynasties like the Chalukyas patronised both Saivism and Vaishnavism, inviting Brahmins and holding rituals—showing that elite patronage could actively promote a sect.

Check whether similar patterns (donations, resettlement of Vaishnava priests, ritual endowments) are recorded for patrons connected to the Morena temple.

Gives an example where rulers introduced the worship of a specific form of Vishnu (Vitthala) into a different region, showing rulers could transmit Vaishnava cults across regions.

Compare whether the Chausath Yogini site's iconography or patronage shows introduction of a Vishnu form into that locale.

Explains that temples functioned as social institutions and hubs for cultural life, so converting a temple into a center for a particular devotional cult was a viable mechanism.

Look for evidence that the Morena temple served wider social functions (festivals, landed endowments) aligned with Vaishnava institutional expansion.

Mentions the Azhwars and the centrality of Vaishnava hymns and their commentaries from the twelfth century, indicating literary-religious movements that could accompany temple-based Vaishnava expansion.

Search for presence of Vaishnava hymn usage, inscriptions quoting such hymns, or local traditions linking the temple to Vaishnava devotional literature.

Describes the new Parliament building as 'not square or round — it's like a soft triangle' and says its interiors include 'temple patterns' among decorative motifs.

A student could compare the Parliament's three‑sided/triangular plan with known plans of temples (including circular or polygonal plans) to see if a specific temple type matches the shape.

Explains early temple plan conventions (garbhagriha as a small square room) and that temple forms evolved into larger, more elaborate plans.

Use this rule about temple-plan evolution to assess whether the Parliament's triangular plan resembles any later or regional temple plan variants (e.g., circular or polygonal sanctuaries).

Notes identifiable temple elements such as shikhara and entrance to garbhagriha and that temple walls were often decorated with sculpture.

A student could inspect whether Parliament's exterior or interior architectural motifs correspond to identifiable temple elements (shikhara, garbhagriha plan, circular colonnades) to infer possible inspiration.

Gives an example of innovative temple planning (Vitthala temple with a chariot-shaped shrine and complex halls), showing temple architecture adopted varied unconventional plans.

Since temples can have non-rectangular, symbolic plans, a student could survey examples of polygonal or circular temples (like some yogini temples are circular) and compare footprints with Parliament's plan.

Describes regional architectural techniques and that temple plans vary (excavated cave vs structural temples), implying diversity of temple forms across India.

Use the documented diversity of temple forms to justify checking specific regional temple examples (e.g., Morena's Chausath Yogini) for geometries similar to the Parliament layout on a map or plan.