The correct option is Yaksha worship.
Explanation
Ancient Indian religious practices consisted of two parallel streams: the Vedic sacrificial tradition followed by the elite, and the indigenous folk traditions followed by the masses. The interaction between these streams shaped the development of Indian art and iconography.Analysis of Worship Traditions
- Yaksha Worship: Yakshas and Yakshinis were regarded as nature spirits, guardians of wealth, and deities of fertility and water. This form of worship was a dominant folk tradition (part of the "Little Tradition") that existed extensively across India long before the emergence of Buddhism or Jainism.
- Assimilation in Buddhism: Unlike Vedic rituals which were often exclusive, Buddhism and Jainism assimilated these popular folk deities to gain wider acceptance. Consequently, Yaksha figures appear prominently in Mauryan art (e.g., the Didarganj Yakshi) and Post-Mauryan Buddhist monuments (e.g., as guardians on the toranas of Bharhut and Sanchi Stupas).
- Comparison with Other Options:
- Fire and Sun Worship: These were primarily Vedic practices (Agni and Surya). While they existed, the specific phenomenon of a "popular folk cult" assimilated into Buddhist art is best represented by Yaksha worship.
- Vishnu Worship: While roots exist in the Vedas, the popular worship of Vishnu as a sectarian deity (Vaishnavism) gained prominence significantly later, particularly during the Gupta period.
Key Takeaway:
Yaksha worship represents the indigenous folk religion of ancient India that persisted through the Vedic and Mauryan periods and was eventually integrated into Buddhist, Jaina, and Hindu iconography as subsidiary deities.