Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c8.8

c8.8

HOUSE-BUILDING—Building art was quite evolved, as shown by terms about architectural lay-out and the several parts of a building pillar as the main support of a building was called *Skambha*. Indra is *Skabhīyān*, best possessor of pillars (RV. X. 111. 5). The building was measured out (*dhāma mame*) and supported on pillars (*skambhena adhāryat*, RV. VIII. 41, 10). There is a reference to three pillars made stable in their foundations which gives a good picture of a vaulted or conical roof (*Trayaḥ skambhāsaḥ skabhitāsaḥ*, RV. I. 34. 2). The foundation is called *Dharuṇa* on which the pillar was raised (*Skambhaṁ dharuṇe* RV. X. 44. 4). A big pillar was praised as *Mahat Skambha* (RV. VI. 47. 5), having a tall shaft (*Varshman*, R. V. III. 8. 3), raised aloft (*Urdhvamtiṣṭha*, RV. III. 8. 1) and considered to be an emblem of universal prosperity (*Uchchhrayasva mahate Saubhgāya*, RV. III. 8. 2) as a *Yūpa* or Indra’s Banner. The word *stabhanāt* has been used for a pillar (*Skambhanena stabhanāt*, RV. VI. 47. 5), giving the later word *Stambha*. Expert wood-workers went to the forest, selected the stately tree and felled it with their axes (*Vanaspate Svadhitistataksha*, RV. III. 8. 6.).