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.c47.6630

v7.c47.6630

(1) *Mānasāra*, Chap. xxx :
Flights of steps are constructed for ascending up and descending from temples, residential buildings, pavilions, enclosure (prākāra), gate-houses, hilly tracts (parvata-deśa), step-wells, wells, ponds, villages, and towns (lines 85-89).
Their situation :
They are stated to be constructed on the front, back and sides of a residential building or temple :
> Sarveshāṁ mukha-bhadrāṇāṁ pārśve sopāna-saṁyutam । (93)
> Pārśvayor dvāra-deśe tu mukha-sopānam eva vā । (94)
> Guhyānta-dvāra-deśe tu vāme sopāna-saṁyutam । (97)
> Pramukhe mukha-sopānaṁ kuryāch chhilpa-vit-tamaḥ । (102)
> Prapāṅge pramukhe bhadre sopānaṁ pūrva-pārśvayoḥ । (105)
> Pārśvayoḥ prishṭha-deśe tu tat-pūrve paksha-pārśvayoḥ । (100)
> Yatra deśe tu sopānaṁ tatra dosho na vidyate । (101)
> Alinda-yuktaṁ tad-dvāre vāme sopāna-saṁyutam । (113)
> Vinālinda-pradeśe tu pramukhe sopānam eva cha । (114)
Their situation in other places :
> Gopurāṇāṁ tu tat-pārśve sopānaṁ lakshaṇānvitam । (117)
> Adri-deśe samārohya yatra tatraiva kārayet । (118)
> Vāpī-kūpa-taṭāke vā paritaḥ sopāna-saṁyutam । (119)
> Chatur-dikshu chatush-koṇe chāntarāle’thavā punaḥ । (120)
> Evam eva yathā-deśe bhadra-sopānam eva vā । (121)
Their plan :
> Trayo-viṁśach chhatāntaṁ syād devānām iti kathyate । (141)
> Paṭṭādri-mārga-paryantaṁ tiryak chordhvordhva-choktavat । (142)