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.s21: Chapter XXXIII: The Gate-House (Gopura-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.s21
- Language
- English
Chapter XXXIII: The Gate-House (Gopura-vidhāna)
v2.c14.s21.2
¹ Rām Rāz, *Essay*, pp. 58—61; plates XXXVI—XLII. This term in Prākrit form (*duārasohā*) occurs in the *Mṛichchhakatika* (ed. STENZLER), p. 72, l, 13, in the description of Vasantasenā's palace (Act V) which is divided into seven courts.
v2.c14.s21.3
Gate-houses (*gopura*) are built in front of each of the five courts into which the whole compound is divided. The *gopura* belonging to the first court (*antar-maṇḍala*) is technically called the *dvāra-śobhā* or 'the beauty of the gate'²; that belonging to the second court is known as *dvāra-śālā* or gate-house. The gate-house of the third court is called *dvāra-prāsāda*, and that of the fourth court (*prākāra*) has the name of *dvāra-harmya*. The gate-house of the fifth or outermost court (*mahāmaryādā*) is known as *mahāgopura* or the great gate house.
v2.c14.s21.4
Each of these five classes of gate-houses is subdivided again into three kinds—the small, the intermediate, and the large. Gate-houses are exhaustively described under these fifteen kinds. They are further divided into ten classes with regard to the number of architectural members designated as *śikhara* (domes), *stūpikā* (pinnacle), *gala-kūṭa* (neck-peak), and *kshudra-nāsī* (vestibule). A *gopura* is thus technically called *śrībhoga* when its *śikhā* is like a *śālā*, and it has a circular surrounding *stūpikā*, and is furnished with a *gala-kūṭa*, four *kshudra-nāsīs*, and eight *mahānāsīs*. The remaining nine classes are called respectively *śriviśāla*, *vishṇukānta*, *indra-kānta*, *brahma-kānta*, *skanda-kānta*, *śikhara* and *saumya-kānta*. The names of two of these ten classes are evidently missing.
v2.c14.s21.5
The fifteen kinds of gate-houses referred to above may have one to sixteen or seventeen storeys. But the details of those of one to five storeys only are given, others being left to the discretion of the artists and stated to be built in the same way as those described so minutely.
v2.c14.s21.6
The measurements, both absolute and comparative, of length, breadth and height of each storey belonging to each of the fifteen kinds of gate-houses are described at great length. The ornaments and mouldings of each storey are also given in detail. The *garbha-griha* (cella or sanctum) as well as all other rooms together with their different parts, such as pillars, entablatures, walls, roofs, floors, doors, windows, etc., are exhaustively discussed.
v2.c14.s21.7
The measurements, etc., of the gate-houses are discussed in comparison with those of the main buildings also. Then follows a lengthy description of their solid (*ghana*) and hollow (*aghana*) parts. The description of some interior members is also included in this section.
v2.c14.s21.8
The chapter closes with an interesting description of windows, not only for gate-houses, but also for other kinds of buildings, both religious and residential. The general plan of windows seems to be this: a post or pillar is fixed in the middle to which are attached two perforated screens (*jālaka* and *phalakā*). These admit of various patterns represented by the following names, by which they are classed with regard to their shapes, *nāga-bandha*, *valli*, *gavāksha* (cow's eye), *kuñ-jarāksha* (elephant's eye), *svastika*, *sarvato-bhadra*, *nandyāvarta*, and *pushpa-bandha* (bouquet or bunch of flowers). They are decorated with floral and foliated ornaments, as well as with decorative devices in imitation of jewels. The measurement of length, breadth and thickness is entirely left to the discretion of the artist. But it is stated in conclusion that according to some authorities the width of the windows for gate-houses varies from 1½ to 5 cubits (*hasta*), the increment being by six *aṅgulas*.
Linked texts (1)
- Mṛcchakaṭika — Śūdraka, Sanskrit