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.c41.s1.59

v6.c41.s1.59

(1) Meru has 100 cupolas (*śṛiṅga*), 16 storeys (*bhūmika*), many variegated steeples (*śikhara*), and is 50 cubits broad (vv. 28, 31, 53) ; (2) Mandara has 12 storeys, many steeples and faces, and is 45 cubits broad (vv. 28, 37, 47, 53) ; (3) Kailāśa has nine storeys (many steeples and faces), and is 40 cubits broad (vv. 32, 47, 53) ; (4) Vimāna-chchhanda has eight storeys, many steeples and faces (*ānana*), and is 34 cubits broad (vv. 25, 32, 33, 47, 53) ; (5) Nandi-vardhana has seven storeys, and is 32 cubits broad (vv. 29, 33, 48, 53) ; (6) Nandana has seven storeys, and is furnished with *vishāṇa* or horns, and is 30 cubits broad (vv. 29, 33, 48, 53) ; (7) Sarvatobhadra has five storeys, 16 corners with various shapes, is furnished with art galleries (*chitraśālā*), and is 30 cubits broad (vv. 29, 34, 35, 48, 53) ; (8) Valabhī-chchhandaka has five storeys, many steeples and faces, and is 16 cubits broad (vv. 35, 50, 53) ; (9) Vṛisha should resemble the height and length of the bull, be round and without corners, should have five cupolas, two storeys, and should be 4 cubits broad at the central hall (vv. 30, 36, 44, 45, 53) ; (10) Siṁha resembles the lion and is 16 cubits broad, is adorned with the famous *chandra-śālā* (top rooms, gable windows), and by the width of the front neck six storeys high (vv. 29, 36, 40, 49, 53) ; (11) Gaja resembles the elephant, and is 16 cubits broad, and has many *chandraśālās* or top rooms (vv. 36, 41, 49, 53) ; (12) Kumbha resembles the water-jar, has nine storeys, five cupolas (*aṇḍas*), and is 16 cubits broad (vv. 37, 49, 53) ; (13) Samudraka has 16 sides around, 2 *chandraśālās* (top rooms) at the two sides, two storeys (vv. 38, 53) ; (14) Padma has three storeys, 16 corners, a variegated steeple, and is 20 cubits broad (vv. 30, 39, 49, 53) ; (15) Garuḍa has the bird-design around, seven storeys, three top rooms, and is 8 cubits broad, and there should be 86 (?) compartments (*bhūmika*, *lit.* storeys, v. 42) all round the outside (vv. 41, 43, 51). There is a similar Garuḍa building with ten storeys, and a second Padmaka-building with two storeys more (? 12 storeys, v. 43) ; (16) Haṁsa, is 10 cubits broad (vv. 36, 51) ; (17) Vartula is 20 cubits broad (vv. 29 49, 53). No special description is given of the remaining : (18) Chaturaśra (four-cornered, vv. 28, 53) ; (19) Ashṭāśra (eight-cornered, v. 29, 53) ; (20) Shoḍaśāsra (sixteen-cornered, vv. 29, 53).¹