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) v7.c47.4087

v7.c47.4087

The whole compound of a house or temple is divided into five courts. The first one is called the antar-maṇḍala or the innermost court (line 11). The second is known as antar-nihāra and the third as madhyama-hārā (line 12). The fourth court is technically named prākāra (line 12). The fifth and last one is known as the mahā-maryādā or the extreme boundary where the large gate-houses (gopuras) are constructed (line 14). As the name of the chapter (Prākāra-lakshaṇa, description of Prākāra) indicates, the greater part of it describes only the fourth court (lines 15–102). Prākāras are also divided into the Jāti, Chhanda, Vikalpa (Ābhāsa) and Kāmya classes (lines 3–5). Under each class a number of buildings (śālās) are exhaustively described (lines 6–86).