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) v6.c37.9.3

v6.c37.9.3

knew the manufacture and use of burnt bricks. Convincing references are, however, available not only to burnt bricks and carved stones, but also to the storeyed mansions with a hundred doors and a thousand pillars which are described in the Vedic literature, and, subsequently, elaborated in the Buddhist scriptures and the Hindu Epics, *Purāṇas*, *Āgamas* and numerous other branches of Sanskrit literature. One of the fortunate results of this controversy has been, however, the publication of valuable books, especially of Fergusson's *History of Indian and Eastern Architecture*, containing life-like references to our architectural monuments of Buddhist and later periods. His noble example has been followed with greater zeal and clearer understanding by genuine friends of Indian culture like the late lamented E. B. Havell, Vincent A. Smith, and several others whose sacred memory deserves our respect, but who are too numerous to be quoted here. All these savants, however, had to restrict their researches to the trodden paths, which they enormously cleared, though they could explore no new avenue. Thus the period between 3000 B.C. and 500 B.C. remained practically unrepresented, so far as archaeological remains are concerned. This gap could only be filled by those vivid descriptions which can be gathered together from literature. The reality of non-technical literary and casual references has, however, been reasonably substantiated by the publication of the *Mānasāra* series.