In this essay I examine the accounts of temple design and construction given by a group of six early Śaiva texts. The six texts are: the Bṛhatkālottara Mahātantra; the Devyāmata, also titled the Niśvāse Mahātantre Pratiṣṭhātantra; the Kiraṇāgama; the Mohacūrottara Pratiṣṭhātantra; the Mayasaṃgraha, with its commentary, the Bhāvacūḍāmaṇi; and theBrahmayāmala Jayadrathādhikāra Piṅgalāmata. I will seek indications of date and place for the textual accounts by comparing them to extant architectural pieces. The essay will fall into 3 parts. First, what is known of the dating of the texts will be presented. Second, pertinent aspects of the character of the texts will be discussed, and elements of their building instructions will be introduced. Third, those elements of the building record will be used to date and place the texts.