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.c49.62

v7.c49.62

This dictionary owes its name to the University of London. A glossary of the architectural terms used in the *Mānasāra*, the standard work on Hindu architecture, was prepared for the author's private use when he found it indispensable after struggling for two and a half years to edit for the first time and translate into English a text which is written in five different scripts, possesses eleven badly preserved manuscripts, has undergone five recensions and comprises more than 10,000 lines of a language rightly remarked by Dr. Bühler as the 'most barbarous Sanskrit.' In this connexion there arose an occasion for the author to express to the University the opinion that an Encyclopaedia of Hindu architecture was badly needed. Architectural expressions appear throughout the whole field of general Sanskrit literature and the epigraphical records, as well as in the extensive special branch of literature known as *Vāstu-śāstras*, more familiarly called *Śilpa-śāstras*. Existing dictionaries, in Sanskrit, English, or any other language, do not elucidate architectural expressions; and the texts of the *Vāstu-śāstras* have been waiting for hundreds of years to be unearthed from manuscripts which are quite inaccessible without the guidance of a special dictionary that would also be instrumental in bringing to light many new things hitherto left unexplained in inscriptions and general literature. The University selected the author as the person most immediately concerned and entrusted him with the task suggesting that he should ‘make a full dictionary of all achitectural terms used in the *Mānasāra* with explanations in English, and illustrative quotations from cognate literature where available for the purpose.’ Thus the terms included in this dictionary are primarily those found in the *Māna-sāra*. But all the new architectural terms of any importance discovered in all the known architectural treatises, epigraphical documents, and general literature have also been added. To form even a faint idea of the herculean labour involved in bringing out this colossal work a perusal of the preface is necessary. This the first volume published embraces 882 pages, one more volume *Indian Architecture according to Mānasāra Śilpa-śāstras* has been published and two other volumes to complete the dictionary are in the Press. This dictionary is a veritable Encyclopaedia of Hindu architecture. It deals with some 3,000 terms, relating to architecture, sculpture and cognate arts, and covers a vast number of topics. Under each term is brought together useful information in the form of a short article, illustrated, with quotations from *Śilpa-śāstras*, general literature and archaeological records. It is a pioneer work. It is hoped that it may be instrumental in explaining many things hitherto left obscure in inscriptions and general literature. Two appendices enhance the utility of the work : in one appendix is given a sketch of the literature on the subject, while the other contains histories of ancient Indian architects, together with a short description of their works. Great has been the labour of the erudite author and he is to be congratulated on its successful issue, so also the publishers for the volume as regards its printing and general get-up is all that can be desired.