Representations of Indasalaguha, rock-cut monasteries, and the shifting attitudes toward Buddhist asceticism

This paper examines distinctive perspectives on asceticism as reflected in Buddhist practice, rather than solely through textual analysis. Visual and architectural representations of Buddhist asceticism reveal regional variations in addressing this significant theme. In the Western Deccan, the monastic community appears to have assimilated and moderated the ascetic tradition within its framework. In contrast, in Swat, extreme asceticism remained a prominent and tangible aspect of certain monastic practices, potentially influencing Buddhist movements like Vajrayana, which elevated these austerities into a central path for spiritual attainment.