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.s62: The Sanat-Kumāra-Vāstu-Śāstra
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.s62
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The Sanat-Kumāra-Vāstu-Śāstra
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Another authority frequently referred to is Sanat-kumāra. There are several fragmentary manuscripts of his treatise. But they are incomplete¹. In one of the manuscripts the following subjects are dealt with² :
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¹ Egg. III. 3151, 2680; Oppert, vol. I, no. 8239, page 580. In the Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras, there are nine manuscripts (Cat. vol. XXII, nos. 13060—13068).
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² Madras manuscripts, no. 13060.
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(1) Gṛiha-saṁsthāpana—construction of houses, M. XXXVI.
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(2) Nakshatra-graha-yoga-vidhi - constellation of planets and stars (in determining the auspicious times) in connection with the building of houses.
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(3) Graha-lagna-vidhi—almost the same as (2).
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(4) Taru-tantra-vidhi—on trees (wood, for building houses with).
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(5) Bhū-parīkshā-vidhi—examination of soil, M. IV, V.
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(6) Nakshatra-tithi-vāra-śuddhi—on auspicious time.
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(7) Nakshatra-lagna-phala-dvāra-bandha-śubha-sthāna-nirṇaya—ascertaining auspicious time and place (in constructing doors).
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(8) Gṛiha-praveśana—first entry into the newly-built house, M. XXXVII.
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This treatise of Sanat-kumāra is stated to have been based on the works of Brahman, Śakra, Yama, Bhārgava, Āṅgirasa, Maya, Gautama, Gārgya, Manu, Vyāsa, Bhṛigu, Viśvakarman and others
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The same list is differently given in another manuscript (no. 13064), where Śakra is replaced by Chandra and Maya is omitted.
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But in other manuscripts (nos. 13062, 13068) Śakra is not replaced by Chandra although Maya is omitted.
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As we have seen above, Viśvakarman acknowledges his debt to Maya. And Sanat-kumāra mentions Viśvakarman as his authority; it is, therefore, not unlikely that of these lists the first one, which contains Maya, is correct. And if the view that Maya is indebted to the *Mānasāra* be accepted on the grounds discussed above, it would be easy to infer that Sanat-kumāra may be also indebted, directly or indirectly, to the *Mānasāra*.
Linked texts (1)
- Mānasāra — Sanskrit