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.s4.79

v1.c6.s4.79

(1) “The pedestal is not only placed under the base of a column or pilaster, but frequently employed, both singly and together with the latter, as a pavement for temples and porticoes, over cornices of edifices consisting of several storeys in height and also as a platform for thrones, and as seats for statues.” In a Tamil fragment of a manuscript, purporting to be a translation of Mayamata, it is said that “the height of the shaft or pillar is to be divided into four parts, and one to be given to the base which may or may not be accompanied by a pedestal, and in the case where a pedestal is joined to the base, the height of the pedestal may be either equal to that of the base, or twice or three times as much. Here, the greatest height, given to a pedestal, namely, three times that of the base, is equal to a little more than a third part of the highest column, which is not perhaps a bad proportion.” (Rām Rāz, Ess. Arch. Hind. pp. 23, 26).