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) v2.c14.s13: Chapter XV: The Pillar (Stambha-lakshaṇa-vidhāna)
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) v2.c14.s13
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Chapter XV: The Pillar (Stambha-lakshaṇa-vidhāna)
v2.c14.s13.2
The opening lines divide the subject matter into five heads, namely, the measurement of pillars, their shapes, their ornaments and mouldings, the collection of wood for the purpose of making pillars, which may, however, be made of stone, and the ceremonial and process of erecting pillars.
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The height of a pillar is measured from above the base to below the *uttara*, or above the pedestal from the *janman* to the *uttara*. The height of a pillar, in other words, is measured from the plinth up to the lowest member of the entablature, so as to include the capital. In an important passage in the Kāśyapa, quoted by Rām Rāz, it is stated that the measurement may also be taken from the cimbia of the shaft, exclusive of the base.
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The height of a pillar is twice, one-and-a-half times or one-and-a-quarter times that of its base, or the height of the pillar begins at 2½ *hastas* and ends at 8 *hastas*, the increment being by 6 *aṅgulas* or ¼ *hasta*. But according to Kāśyapa, the height of the pillar may be 3 times that of the base ; or 6 or 8 times that of the pedestal. The width (diameter) of a pillar may be ⅙, 1/7, ⅛, 1/9 or 1/10 of its height, or ⅓, ¼ or ⅙ of the height if it be a pilaster (*kudya-stambha*). The width of the pilaster, according to the *Mānasāra*, is 3, 4, 5 or 6 *mātras* (*aṅgulas*), and twice, thrice or four times of these should be the width of the *kampa*. The height of a pillar being divided into 12, 11, 10, 9 or 8 parts, the one of these parts may be the breadth of the pillar, and at the top it is diminished by one-fourth.
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The column admits of different shapes. A square pillar is called *brahma-kānta*. An octagonal one is called *vishṇu-kānta*. A sixteen-sided or circular one is known as *rudra-kānta*. A pentagonal one is called *śivakānta*, and the hexagonal one *skanda-kānta*. These shapes are stated to be uniform from bottom to top. But the base may be quadrangular.
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With respect to dimensions and ornaments the five kinds of columns—*brahma-kānta*, *vishṇu-kānta*, *rudra-kānta*, *śiva-kānta*, and *skanda-kānta*—are called *chitra-karṇa*, *padma-kānta*, *chitra-kumbha*, *pālikā-stambha*, and *kumbha-stambha*. A sixth one, *koshṭha-stambha*, in the latter division, is stated to be two-sided, and is the same as the *kudya-stambha* or pilaster.
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It should be noticed that the former set of five names refers to the shapes of the shafts, whilst the latter set of five names is based on the shapes of the capitals, but in the detailed description both the capital and shaft are included.
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Some special kinds of pillars are also described, such as *Chitra-karṇa*, *Padma-kānta*, *Chitra-kumbha*, *Vīra-kaṇṭha*, *Pālikā-stambha*, *Kumbha-stambha* and *Koshṭha-stambha*. Then follow the description and measurement of the mouldings of the pillars.
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Columns, when in rows, must be in a straight line. "The intercolumnation may be two, three, four or five diameters ; it is measured in three ways, 1st, from the inner extremity of the base of one pillar to that of another ; 2nd, from the centre of the two pillars ; and 3rd, from the outer extremities of the pillars including the two bases." There seems to be no fixed intercolumnation. This has been left to the discretion of architects who are, however, required to be particularly careful with regard to beauty and utility.
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Minor pillars should be proportionate to the main pillar. A main pillar with one minor pillar (*upapāda*) is called *eka-kānta*, with two minor pillars *dvikānta*, and with three minor pillars *tri-kānta*. A main pillar with four minor pillars is called *brahma-kānta*, with five *śiva-kānta*, with six *skanda-kānta*, and with eight minor pillars, it is called *vishṇu-kānta*.
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There is a long description of the collection of wood for purposes of pillars. The details seem to indicate that at the time when the *Mānasāra* was composed, wood was frequently used for making columns; stone pillars are also mentioned, but pillars made of brick alone are not particularly dealt with. It is, however, stated that stone, brick and wood were used for making different parts of a column. The square *ādhāra* or base of a stone pillar, it is stated, should be made of stone, and that of the wooden pillar of wood. But at the end of the next chapter, it is added that all the parts of a column should be made of stone (*śilā*), wood (*dāru*) or brick (*ishṭakā*). In the middle of the same chapter the use of these three materials is elaborately discussed. The pillars, etc., are called *śuddha* (pure) when made of one material, *miśra* (mixed) when made of two materials, and *saṁkīrṇa* (amalgamated) when made of all the three (or more) materials.
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The concluding part of this chapter deals with ceremonies in connection with erecting columns. They are essentially ritualistic. It is directed that the column should be posted (*veśayet*) at the side of a *maṇḍapa* or pavilion.
Linked texts (2)
- Mānasāra — Sanskrit
- Kāśyapaśilpa — Sanskrit