The sculptures pertaining to the period of c. 300 – 600 CE shows the introduction of new styles in the temple architecture. The inspiration for the themes for the sculpture was drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina traditions.

The finest examples of the art during the Gupta period are Ajanta caves. Out of the 31 rock-cut cave monuments at Ajanta, five are Chaitya Grihas. The five chaitya grihas are cave numbers 9, 10, 19, 26, and 29.

The Pala ruler ‘Devapala’ was succeeded by Vigrahapala. Vigrahapala ruled for about 3 or 4 years after that, he abdicated his throne and began to live the life of an ascetic.

After the death of Pravarasena, Rudrasena I the son of Gautamiputra succeeded his grandfather Pravarsena to the throne and ruled from Nandivardhana, near modern Nagpur. Sarvasena, another son of Pravarasena, started ruling independently from Vastugulma.

The Ikshavakus arose on the ruins of Satavahana power in eastern part of the peninsula in India. The Ikshavakus left behind many monuments at Nagarjunkonda and Dharanikota. They were a local tribe.

The Ikshavakus rose in the Krishna-Guntur region on the ruins of Satvahanas. The Ikshavakus were a local tribe. They started the practice of land grants in the Krishna-Guntur region. They also built many monuments.

The Kadambas had their capital at Vaijayanti or Banavasi in north Kanara district in the state of Karnataka. The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Pallavas. They claimed to be Brahmanas. The Kadamba dynasty was founded by Mayurasharman.

Bhaga, Bhoga, Kara and Hiranya refers to the different types of revenues which were collected by the rulers during the early medieval period. They were the chief sources of revenue to the donees.

Tantricism puts special emphasis on certain things like Mantras which are prayers and formulae, Bijas which are syllables of mystic significance peculiar to each deity, Yantras which are diagrams drawn on paper or inscribed in preciousstone, metal, etc., Mudras means special positions of fingers and movements of hands and Nayasas involve placingthe deities on different parts of the body by touching them with finger tips and the palm, mostly of the right hand.

During the Medieval period,  Saivism attained a dominant position in India. A large number of royal families adhered to this faith and built richly endowed temples dedicated to shiva. The Pratihara kings, Vatsaraja and Mahendrapala, were worshippers of Siva.