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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.s32: The Śilpa-Śāstra of Maṇḍana

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.s32

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The Śilpa-Śāstra of Maṇḍana

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The treatise of Maṇḍana, otherwise called Rāja-vallabha-Maṇḍana, Sūtradhāra-Maṇḍana, and also perhaps Bhūpati-vallabha, is unique in a sense. He seems to be a historical person. He is stated to have been 'in the employ of King Kumbhakarṇa of Medapāṭha, and the husband of Mīrābai.' According to Tod, King Kumbha ruled over the country of Mewar from A.D. 1419 to 1469.¹ This treatise bears the titles *Śilpa-śāstra*, *Vāstu-śāstra*, and also *Prāsāda-Maṇḍana-Vāstu-śāstra*.² It deals with the architectural disposition of houses, palaces and temples in the following fourteen chapters :

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¹ Bhandarkar's Report, *ibid*, 1882–83, p. 37.

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² Egg., 3142, 1291, 3147, 2253. Apparently one of these manuscripts is published with some diagrams by Bhārati at Baroda, 1891. Five other manuscripts are ascribed to Maṇḍana : (i) *Vāstu-Maṇḍana*, (ii) *Vāstu-Mañjarī*, (iii) *Vāstu-sāra*, (iv) *Rūpa-Maṇḍana*, and (v) *Apa-tattva*.

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(1) *Miśraka-lakshaṇa*—classification, cf. *Mānasāra*, I, III.

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(2) *Vāstu-lakshaṇa*—characteristics and classification of architectural objects, *M.* III.

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(3) *Āyādi-lakshaṇa*—architectural formulæ of measurement, *M.*, LXVI.

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(4) *Prākāra-yantra—vāpī-kūpa-taḍāga-lakshaṇa*—courts, tanks, wells, pools, machines, described in several places in *M.*

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(5) *Rāja-gṛiha-niveśādi-lakshaṇa*—opening of the royal palaces, *M.*, XL, XXXVII.

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The 28th verse of this chapter (V) mentions the *Matsya-Purāṇa* as an authority on the subject.

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(6) *Eka-śālā-dvi-śālā-gṛiha-lakshaṇa*—houses with one and two halls or rows, described in many places in *M.*, cf. XXXV.

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(7) *Dvi-śālā-tri-śālā-chatuḥ-śālā-gṛiha-lakshaṇa*—houses with two, three, and four sides, described in many places in *M.*, cf. XXXV.

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(8) *Śayana-siṁhāsana-chhatra-gavāksha-sabhāshṭaka-vedikā-chatushtaya-dīpa-lakshaṇa*—bedsteads or couches, thrones, umbrellas, windows, eight councils, four platforms, and lamps. an abridged collection of several subjects described in *M.*, XLIV, XLV, XXXIII, etc.

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(9) *Rāja-gṛihādi-lakshaṇa*—royal palaces, *M.*, XL.

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(10) (*Māpita*)-*Kshetrādbhuta-lakshaṇa*, building site, *M*, IV, V.

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(11) *Dina-śuddhi-griha-niveśa-griha-praveśa-vivāha-muhūrta-lakshaṇa*—auspicious times with regard to beginning the construction and entry into the house, and the wedding, cf. *M.*, XXXV, XXXVII.

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(12) *Gochara-dina-rātri-māna-svarodaya-kūṭa-chakra-mātrikā-lakshaṇa*—astronomical calculations bearing upon architecture, cf. *M.*, XXXV.

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(13) *Jyotisha-lakshaṇa*—astrological consideration, cf. *M.*, XXXV.

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(14) *Śakuna-lakshaṇa*—auspicious signs, cf. *M.*, XV.

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The manuscript bearing the title *Prāsāda-Maṇḍana-Vāstu-śāstra* by Sūtradhāra Maṇḍana (Egg., 3147, 2253) contains the following eight chapters, which, except the first one, are apparently in continuation of the fourteen chapters stated above.

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(1) *Miśra-kalaśa*—the jug ornament, mentioned in many places in *M.*

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(15) (2) *Āyatanādhikāra*—temples, buildings, cf. *M.*, XIX–XXX.

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(16) (3) *Bhitti-pīṭha-maṇḍ[ap]a-vāra[dvāra]-garbha-griha-udumbara-pramāṇa*—walls, pedestals, open courts, doors, shrines, etc., *M.*, XIII, XXXIV, XXXVIII, XXXIX, etc.

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(17) (4) *Pramāṇa-dṛishṭi-pa(ā)da-sthāna-śikhara-kalaśa-lakshaṇa*—measures, sight (perspective), pillars, finials, towers, *M.*, II, XV, etc.

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(18) (5) *Rājyādi-prāsādādhikāra*—royal kingdoms, palaces, etc., *M.*, XL, XLI, XLII, etc.

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(19) (6) *Keśaryādi-prāsāda-jāti-lakshaṇa*, *pañcha-kshetra-pañcha-chatvā-riṁśan-meru-lakshaṇādhyāya*—Keśari and other classes of buildings, forty-five types of buildings beginning with Meru; compare *M.*, XVIII, XIX–XXX, and see comparison of the *Mānasāra* with the *Purāṇas* and the *Āgamas* discussed below (p. 189–196).

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(20) (7) *Maṇḍapā-bālāṇka-sambaraṇādhikāra*—open courts, etc. *M.*, XXXIV, etc.

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(21) (8) *Jīrṇoddhāra-bhinna-dosha-sthāvara-pratishṭhā*, *Sūtradhāra-pūjā*, *Jina-pratishṭhā*, *vāstu-purusha-vinyāsa*—repairing and other defects, consecration of movable images, offerings to architects (carpenters), consecration of Jain images, description of the presiding deity of the house, *M.*, LXIX, II, VIII, LV, VII, etc.

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As has already been suggested, these two parts of Maṇḍana's treatise in some respects seem to be two overlapping portions of one work. Other treatises ascribed to Maṇḍana are fragmentary and useless for any attempt to combine the several portions into a complete whole.

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The important points relating to this historical treatise are well worth noticing. First its date is pretty certain, secondly it mentions the *Matsya-Purāṇa*, and lastly it contains a list of forty-five buildings, classified under five headings, bearing titles and giving details which correspond exactly to the lists and titles discovered in many important treatises.¹

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¹ The *Agni-Purāṇa*, the *Garuḍa-Purāṇa*, also the *Matsya-Purāṇa*, the *Bhavishya-Purāṇa*, the *Bṛihat-saṁhitā* as well as the *Kāmikāgama*, the *Suprabhedāgama* and the *Mānasāra* (*see pp.* 189-196).

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Another point to be noted is that many of its chapters contain matters which are, in fact, different topics and have been more logically described under different headings in the *Mānasāra* and other works. It is, therefore, likely that Maṇḍana's work is more or less a compilation from many sources.

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