The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c15.17

c15.17

The traditions of the Silpa-sâstras, which classify the structure of vimânas, or shrines, by the type of image contained by them, no doubt go back to this time. The Mânasâra says that they are of three kinds. The first, called *st'hânaka*,² contains an image standing erect ; the second, called *âsana*, contains a seated image ; and the third, called *sâyana*, a recumbent one.³