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.c42.s1.67

v6.c42.s1.67

The work *Mānasāra* is regarded, even among architectural works, as one of high authority. Among architectural works so far available, this is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and consists of seventy chapters, of which the first eight are devoted to preliminaries. The next forty-two deal with buildings as such, the remaining chapters being devoted to sculpture and iconography. The introductory matter consists really of the invocation to the gods and *rishis* who seem to be called by the name Mānasāra, which again would mean only *rishis* expert in architecture. The next one has to deal with measurements, qualifications of the architects and so on. The third has reference to the divisions of the subject. The next two chapters deal with characteristics of the soil and the selection of suitable sites for various classes of buildings. In these chapters, the soil test and the quality required for particular buildings are treated with sufficient elaboration for various kinds of buildings. Chapter VI deals with the orientation of buildings, in the course of which the principles of mechanics and gnomon, that is dial, etc., are described. The following chapter (VII) deals with site-plans. Thirty-two schemes of these are given, divided into squares for various purposes of structure. The section concludes in the VIII chapter with the ceremonies necessary to propitiate the deities of the sites, etc. . . .