For other uses, see American literature (disambiguation). American literature is the literature written or produced in the area of the United States and its preceding colonies. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the United States and Theater in the United States.
Its use as a Sun symbol can first be seen in its representation of the god Surya (Devanagari: à¤¸à¥à¤°à¥à¤¯, Sun). The swastika is considered extremely holy and auspicious by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate items related to Hindu culture. It is used in all Hindu yantras (Devanagari: à¤¯à¤à¤¤à¥à¤°) and religious designs.
Temples marked the transition of Hinduism from the Vedic religion of ritual sacrifices to a religion of Bhakti or love and devotion to a personal deity. Temple construction and mode of worship is governed by ancient Sanskrit scriptures called agamas, of which there are several, which deal with individual deities.