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.s25.273.3

v6.c41.s25.273.3

The restored Persian palaces and the halls, open, walled, pillared, or unstoreyed, have no substantial resemblance with the Indian buildings of the same types which have been referred to in the Vedic literature long before the Persian period. The contemporary Indian buildings of the Persian period comprise the cities described in the *Rāmāyaṇa*, the numerous halls referred to in the *Mahābhārata*, and the *vihāra* (monastery), *ardhayoga* (bungalow type of old Bengal buildings), *prāsāda* (storeyed palaces), *harmya* (storeyed mansions comprising several rows or blocks), and *guhā* (cave-houses) which have been described in the Buddhist Vinaya text.¹ These buildings do not look like the Persian structures referred to above. The later Indian works of architecture, comprising villages, towns, forts, civil, military, and religious buildings, various articles of furniture and personal ornaments, including royal and divine crowns, etc., described in detail in our architectural texts, like the standard work *Mānasāra*, and referred to above, do not bear any resemblance to the scanty materials and the reconstructed monuments of Persia. Thus there appears to be no similarity between Persia and India in works of architecture proper. There is, however, a sort of similarity between a certain type of capitals of columns, bearing only the unicorn and bull in Persia, but with a larger variety of animals in India, including the lion and elephant, as well as man.