The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c9.28

c9.28

When the Mânasâra Silpa-sâstra gives directions for the placing of Brahmâ, Vishnu, and Siva shrines in the Indian village, and defines their relations to those of Buddhist and Jaina stûpas, there is no reason why it should not be accepted as a tradition as old as any in the history of Indian building, provided that there is no positive evidence to the contrary to be found in ancient monuments. But it is necessary to remember that the Silpa-sâstras are technical, and not sectarian works, and that the terms used must therefore be considered in their technical sense only. It is just at this point that archæologists of Fergusson's school have gone astray.