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.s9.19

v6.c40.s9.19

³ The commentator Buddhaghosha has, however, submitted an explanatory note. *Vihāra* is the well-known Buddhist monastery. *Arddhayoga*, which literally means ‘half-joining,’ is stated by this commentator to imply *Suvaṇṇa-vanga-griha* or ‘gold-coloured bungalow’ as rendered by Oldenburg and Rhys Davids. P.T.S. *Encyclopaedia* does not accept this interpretation. Dr. B. C. Law (*Indian Culture*, April 1935, p. 717) would interpret it as *Garuḍa* (bird)-shaped house, but gives no authority. There appear, however, no such houses in Bengal, nor is this class of buildings mentioned in the *Śilpa-śāstras*. It is clear, however, that these are meant to imply some sort of luxurious buildings of the then Bengal. Regarding *prāsāda*, Buddhaghosha simply says that it is a long *prāsāda*. Rhys Davids has made several conjectures—‘a long-storeyed mansion, or the whole of an upper storey, or the storeyed buildings.’ Sir M. M. Williams seems to explain this by ‘the monks’ hall for assembly and confession.’ *Harmya* is stated to be a *prāsāda* with an upper chamber placed on the topmost storey. The references to the uses of *prāsāda* and *harmya* as found in the *Śilpa-śāstras*, general Sanskrit literature, and the archaeological records will be found in the writer’s *Encyclopaedia* under those terms. *Guhā* literally means cave and would seem to refer to underground buildings. One of the *Jātakas* (*Ummagga*, p. 430) actually contains an elaborate description of an underground palace, and there are the rock-cut temples as in the famous Ajanta caves. According to Buddhaghosha these *guhā* buildings are of four kinds, namely, those built of bricks, stone, wood, or earth. Rhys Davids has rendered *śilāguhā* by hut made in a rock, and left out the translation of *paṁsu* (Sanskrit *pāṁśu*, meaning sand, dust, or crumbling soil) *guhā*. Buddhaghosha has thus explained the *pañcha-lenāni* under *Mahāvagga* I, 30, 4: