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.c40.s12.t7: Chapter XIV: The Base (Adhishṭhāna-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) v6.c40.s12.t7
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Chapter XIV: The Base (Adhishṭhāna-vidhāna)
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The height of the bases is of twelve kinds, beginning at 30 *aṅgulas* and ending at 4 *hastas*, the increment being by 6 *aṅgulas*. These twelve heights are used respectively in twelve different storeys, one above the other. The heights of the bases are said to be 4 *hastas* in the houses of the Brahmans, 3 *hastas* in those of the Kshatriyas (kings), 2½ *hastas* in the houses of princes, 2 *hastas* in those of the Vaiśyas, and 1 *hasta* in the houses of the Sūdras.
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Some sixty-four bases are described under nineteen different types called *pāda-bandha*, *uraga-bandha*, *pratikrama*, *kumuda-bandha*, *padma-kesara*, *pushpa-pushkala*, *śrī-bandha*, *mañcha-bandha*, *śreṇī-bandha*, *padma-bandha*, *kumbha-bandha* (or *kalaśa-bandha*), *vapra-bandha*, *vajra-bandha*, *śrī-bhoga*, *ratna-bandha*, *paṭṭa-bandha*, *kukshi-bandha*, *kampa-bandha*, and *śrīkānta*. Of each of the bases the mouldings and ornaments are described in detail.
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THE PILLAR (*Stambha-lakshaṇa-vidhāna*)
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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 three times of the base; or six or eight times that of the pedestal. The width (diameter) of a pillar may be ⅙, ⅐, ⅛, ⅑ or ⅒ of its height, or ⅓, ¼ or ⅕ of the height if it be a pilaster (*kuḍya-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 *śiva-kānta*, 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-skambha*, *pālikā-stambha*, and *kumbha-stambha*. A sixth one, *koshtha-stambha*, in the latter division, is stated to be two-sided, and is the same as the *kuḍya-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-skambha*, *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, first, from the inner extremity of the base of one pillar to that of another; second, from the centre of the two pillars; and third from the outer extremities of the pillars including the two bases.’ There seems to be no fixed inter-columnation. 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 conform to the main pillar. A main pillar with one minor pillar (*upapāda*) is called *eka-kānta*, with two minor pillars *dvi-kānta*, 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 *Māna-sāra* 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 (*ishṭaka*). 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 connexion 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.
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THE ENTABLATURE (*Prastara-vidhāna*)
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The height of the entablature (*prastara*), as compared with that of the base (*adhishṭhāna*), is of six kinds. The height of the former may be equal to that of the latter, or less by ¼, or greater by ¼, ½ or ¾; or it may be twice; or, in cubit (*hasta*) measurement these six kinds of height of the entablature begin at 7 cubits and end at 4½ cubits, the decrement being by ½ cubit. These six kinds of entablatures are respectively used in the houses of the gods, the Brahmans, the kings (or Kshatriyas), the crown-princes (*yuvarājas*), the Vaiśyas, and the Śūdras.
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The height of the entablature is said to be ¼ or ¾ of, or equal to, that of the pillar (*pāda*), or greater by ¼, ½ or ¾. Yet another set of six heights is described. The height of the pillar being divided into eight parts, seven, six, five, four, three or two parts may be assigned to that of the entablature.
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The greater portion of the chapter is devoted to an enumeration of the various mouldings and the measurement of each of the eight different kinds of entablature.
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In this chapter the roofing (*prachchhādana*) of buildings is described. It is stated that a brick-built building may be furnished with a wooden roof, and that the roofs of stone buildings should also be built of stone.
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WOOD JOINERY (*Sandhikarma-vidhāna*)
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The definition of the name (*sandhikarman*) of the chapter is given in the opening lines. The joining of pieces of wood for buildings is called *sandhi-karman*. Several kinds of wood-joining are described in detail. Pieces of wood are said to be joined in such a way as to make the *nandyāvarta*, *svastika*, *sarvato-bhadra* and such other shapes. Some kinds of wood are strictly forbidden to be joined with some others. Fresh timber, it is stated, should under no circumstances be joined with seasoned wood.
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It may be noted that wood was very largely used in constructing houses of various kinds; some parts of pillars too were made of wood, as has already been pointed out. Doors were mostly made of wood. The same was the case with couches, cars, chairs, etc.
Linked texts (2)
- Mānasāra — Sanskrit
- Kāśyapadharmasūtra — Kaśyapa, Sanskrit