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Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v1.c6.s28: L

Mānasāra Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Mānasāra-Śilpaśāstra; III. Mānasāra on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Mānasāra: Translation; V. Architecture of Mānasāra: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v1.c6.s28

Language
English

L

v1.c6.s28.1

LAKSHMĪ-SK(-ST)AMBHA—(see Stambha)—A type of column ; the main pillar of a house, which is believed to be the abode of the guardian angel of the house.

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LAMBANA—A pendant, a moulding of the front portico. (M. xviii. 285, see Mukha-bhadra).

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Śikharālambanāntaṁ cha vedi-tāra-samanvitam |

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(M. xix. 27).

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Lambanordhve dalaṁ badhyā . . . . . l

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(Ibid. 39).

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Utsedhe cha tri-bhāgaikaṁ tasyādho chāgra-lambanam |

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(Ibid. 170).

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Tr(i)yaṁśaṁ chāgra-vistāraṁ lambanaṁ pañcha-bhāgikam |

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(Ibid. 172). See also M. xx. 25, etc. A pendant (M. l. 15, etc).

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LAMBA-PATRA—An ornament shaped like a leaf. (M. LI. 73, see Bhūshaṇa).

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LAMBA-MĀNA—The measurement along the plumb-lines. (M. LV. 3-6, see under Māna).

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LAMBA-HĀRA—A kind of long necklace, a pendant. (M. L. 301, see Bhūshaṇa).

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LĀṄGALA—The plough. For its architectural details see Mānasāra (chap. v. 55-77).

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LĀṄGALĀKĀRA—Any thing shaped like the plough, a pavilion with three faces, a type of hall. (M. XXXIV. 553, see under Maṇḍapa; XXXV. 67, see under Śālā).

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LĀṄGALA-BHITTI—A kind of wall shaped like the plough.

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Karṇe lāṅgala-bhittiḥ syād bhramarāvṛita-bāhyake ।

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(M. XXXIV. 333).

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Prapāgraika-dvi-bhāgaṁ vā karṇe lāṅgala-bhittikam ।

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(Ibid. 225).

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LIṄGA—A distinguishing mark, a badge, a symbol, an emblem, the genital organ, the image of a god, an idol, the emblematical phallus of Śiva.

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(1) Mānasāra (chap. LII., named Liṅga) : Various classifications of phalli have been given (line 2 f). They are classified firstly into six heads, (1) Śaiva, Pāśupata, Kāla-mukha, Mahā-vrata, Vāma and Bhairava; secondly into four, (2) Sama-karṇa, Vardhamāna, Śivāṅka and Svastika; thirdly into four with regard to height, (3) Jāti, Chhanda, Vikalpa and Ābhāsa; fourthly into three types with regard to breadth or width. (4) Nāgara, Drāviḍa and Vesara (line 99); fifthly into five, (5) Svayambhu or Udbhūta, Daivika, Mānusha, Gāṇava and Ārsha; sixthly into two, (6) Ātmārtha (for one's personal worship), and Parārtha (for others, for public worship); again into two, (7) Eka (single) liṅga, and Bahu-liṅga (phalli in group); then into many kinds, such as (8) Vajra, Svarṇa, etc., with regard to materials of which they are made; and lastly into two, (9) Kshaṇika (for temporary worship) as constrasted with the (10) Sthira or permanent-linga. All these kinds of phalli are described at great length. Various alternative measures are prescribed for each of them (lines 13-376). In some cases as many as thirty-six alternative heights have been suggested. But in most cases their number is nine. The nine alternative heights of a phallus are determined in some cases by a comparison to different parts of the body of the worshipper (yajamāna). The height of the Phallus may reach the worshipper's sex-organ, naval, heart, breast, arm-joint, chin, nose, eye, or be equal to his full height. Another comparative measurement is given with regard to the Garbha-gṛiha or adytum. Various absolute measures are also given in some cases. The set of the nine alternatives prescribed for height may begin with one cubit and end with four cubits and a half, the increment being by half a cubit. The breadth or width of the phallus is in like manner discussed at great length.

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(2) Athātaḥ sampravakshyāmi liṅga-lakshaṇaṁ uttamaṁ। Susnigdhaṁ cha suvarṇaṁ cha liṅgaṁ kuryād vichakshaṇaḥ॥ Prāsādasya pramāṇena liṅga-mānaṁ vidhīyate। Liṅga-mānena vā vidyāt prāsādaṁ śubha-lakshaṇam॥

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(Matsya-Purāṇa, chap. 263, v. 1-2).

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Etat sāmānyaṁ uddishṭaṁ prāsādāsyeha lakshaṇaṁ। Tathānyaṁ tu pravakshyāmi prāsādaṁ liṅga-mānataḥ॥

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(Ibid. chap. 269, v. 7).

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Evaṁ ratna-mayaṁ kuryāt sphaṭikaṁ pārthivaṁ tathā। Śubhaṁ dāru-mayaṁ chāpi yad vā manasi rochate॥

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(Ibid. chap. 263, v. 25).

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(3) In the Bṛihat-saṁhitā (LVIII. 53-55), where Varāhamihira seems to have condensed the details from the Matsya-Purāṇa, are given especially the architectural characteristics:

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Liṅgasya vṛitta-paridhiṁ dairghyeṇāsūtrya tat tridhā vibhajet। Mūle tach chaturaśraṁ madhye tv-ashṭāsri vṛittaṁ ataḥ॥

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Chaturaśram avani-khāte madhyaṁ kāryaṁ tu piṇḍikā-
sv-abhre l
Dṛiśyochchhrayeṇa samā samantataḥ piṇḍikā śvabhrāt ||
"(For the construction of an emblem of Śiva), set out in the length the (measure of the) circumference of the round part and divide the whole phallus into three portions, of which the part at the bottom must be quadrangular, that in the midst octangular, and the rest round. (The same shapes are prescribed in the Mānasāra). Sink the quadrangular portion into a pit in the earth and put the middle member into the cavity of the pedestal. The pedestal is visible upwards to its cavity, in all directions, over an extent equal to its height."
(Bṛihat-saṁhitā, LVIII. 53, 54, J. R. A. S., N. S., vol. VI. p. 329, notes 1, 2).

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(4) Sarveshāṁ eva liṅgānāṁ lakshaṇaṁ śṛiṇu sāmpratam ||
Madhya-sūtraṁ samāsādya brahma-rudrāntikā budhaḥ |
Shoḍaśāṅgula-liṅgasya shaḍ-bhāgair bhājito yathā ||
Tad vaiyamana-sūtrābhyāṁ mānam antaram uchyate |
Yavāshṭaṁ uttare kāryyaṁ śeshāṇāṁ yava-hānitaḥ ||
Adho-bhāgaṁ tridhā kṛitvā tv-arddham ekaṁ parityajet |
Ashṭadhā tad-dvayaṁ kṛitvā ūrddha-bhāga-trayaṁ tyajet ||
Ūrddhvaṁ cha pañchamād bhāgād bhrāmya-rekhāṁ pralam-
bayet |
Bhāgam ekaṁ parityajya saṁgamaṁ kārayet tayoḥ ||
Etaṁ sādhāraṇaṁ proktaṁ liṅgānāṁ lakshaṇaṁ mayā ||
(Agni-Purāṇa, chap. 53, v. 8-13).

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(5) Svayambhuvaṁ vāṇa-liṅgaṁ daivikaṁ chārshakaṁ tu iti |
Bhā(Gā)ṇavaṁ mānushaṁ liṅgaṁ shaṭ prakāraṁ prakīrti-
tam ||
(Kāmikāgama, L. 35).

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Details of these Liṅgas (see ibid. 36-43) are the same as given in the Mānasāra.

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The Pīṭha (pedestal) of the Liṅga (phallus) is described.

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LIṄGA-(MUDRĀ)-STAMBHA—A pillar marked with the Liṅga or emblem of Śiva (see under Stambha).

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LU(-Ū)PĀ—A sloping and projecting member of the entablature etc., representing a continued pent roof; it is made below the cupola, and its ends are placed as it were suspended from the architrave and reaching the stalk of the lotus below. (See Rām Rāz, Ess. Arch. of Hind. p. 52).

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(1) Atha saṁkshipya vakshyāmo lupānāṁ lakshaṇaṁ vayam।
Uttarasyānurūpeṇa tāsāṁ tāram udīritam॥
(Vāstu-vidyā, ed. Gaṇapati Śāstri, x. 1, f).

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(2) Lūpāroha-kriyā-yuktam anyat pūrvokta-vartmanā।
Athavā sarva-śālāyāṁ lūpārohaṇam eva vā॥
(Kāmikāgama, xxxv. 69).

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(3) In connection with the entablature:
Lupākāraṁ tu tat kuryād dalasyākṛitir eva vā।
(M. xvi. 139, see also 20, 195).

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An account is given in great detail (M. xviii. 168-278, xxx. 132, etc).

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The Lupās prescribed for temples are technically called ambara, vyaya, jyotis, gagana, vihāyas, ananta, antariksha, and pushkala; and those for residential buildings are called mahī, jyā, kāśyapi, kshoṇī, ūrvī, gotrā, vasuṁ-dharā, and vasudhā. (M. xviii. 177-184).

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LOSHṬA—(see Kalaśa)—A lump of earth, a clod, an architectural object resembling partly the finial.

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The Vāstu-vidhyā (ed. Śāstri) has a chapter (xvi) named Mṛit-loshṭa-lakshaṇa (description of the lump of earth). In it loshṭa is directed to be built on the stūpi (top, dome) (v. 27, 37). At the top of a building the kalaśa (water-jar, finial) is generally built. It is variously named in this last chapter of the work: loshṭāni (v. 28-30, 32), nīvra-loshṭāni (v. 34), krūra-loshṭāni (v. 35), koṇa-loshṭāni, puṭa-loshṭāni, ūrdhva-loshṭāni (v. 36), and svarṇādi-loshṭa (v. 39).

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LOHA—(see under Ābhāsa)—Iron, used both as an architectural and sculptural material. One of the metals of which idols are made :
(1) Mṛiṇmayaṁ yadi kuryāch chech chhūlaṁ tatra prakalpayet । Lohajaṁ tv-aviśesheṇa madhūchchhishṭena nirmitam ॥ (Suprabhedāgama, xxxiv. 21).
(2) Evaṁ dvi-tryaṅgulaṁ vāpi lohajaiḥ pratimodayam । (M. xii. 119). Lohajair mṛit-sudhā chaiva . . . . . । Uttamaṁ lohajaṁ bimbaṁ pīṭhābhāsaṁ tu chottamam । (M. li. 6, 19). See further illustrations under Ābhāsa.

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