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Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s5: Some Other Works

Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s5

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English

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Some Other Works

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Around the 6th century A.D. especially after the Manasara, the works on Indian architecture, including fortifications became more mature although they repeat the ideas from the former books like Arthaśāstra, Manusmriti, Purāṇas and Mānasāra. And with this basic maturity of thought, the authentic works like the Mayāmata (600 A.D.), the Nītisāra of Kāmandaka (late 6th century A.D.) and Nītivākyāmrita of Somadēvasūri (10th century A.D.) etc. have projected more vivid pictures of the fort architecture.

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The Mayāmata ranks next to Mānasāra. It is attributed to sage Gannamacharya; it describes 5 types of forts and their sizes, in chapter No. IX. Its classified forts are mostly based on their plans, viz., (1) Chaturasra (square), 2) Dīrgha-chaturasra (oblong) (3) Vritta (Circular), (4) Vrittayata (elliptical) and Gōlavritta (fully circular). The Nītisāra of Kamandaka devotes its 7th Prakarna of the IV Canto, for a discussion of the subject matter of forts. The Nītivākyāmrita of Sōmadēva Sūri a court poet of Vēmulavāda Chālukyas deals with the system of forts under the title 'Janapada samuddesah'.

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Thus, for half a millennium i.e. from 6th century A.D. to 10th century A.D., these above works not only swelled themselves by taking the basic material from the same source i.e. Arthaśāstra, but also enriched the Indian defence architecture in vivid ways.

Manasōllāsa or Abhilaśitārtha Chintāmaṇi (1200 A.D.)

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The Mānasōllāsa or the Abhiliśitārtha Chintāmaṇi (Shama Sastry,R., 1926) is written by Sōmēsvara-III, (1128 A.D.- 1138 A.D.), also known as Bhulōkamalla, the Later Chālukyan king of Kalyāṇa. It consists of 5 prakarṇas with 20 chapters. In the II chapter, it treated the subject of polity under 7 heads each describing separately the 7 limbs of the state i.e. the Saptangās, of which the fort is also an important one. In Khaṇḍa-I, under the slokas from 544 to 584 (Shama Sastry,R., 1926, PP. 95-96) tho description of different types of forts is given, as below:

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"Kōsavān sukhamāpnōti
Kōśōhīnastu sīdati
Jale durgam Girau durgam
Durga pāṣāṇa Nirmitam 544

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Iṣṭikābhiḥ Kṛitaṁ durgaṁ
Durgaṁ Syānmṛittikāmayaṁ
Vanadurgaṁ Marudurgaṁ
Durgaṁ syāddhārunirmitaṁ 545"

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"Navēmaṁ Naradurgaṁ cha
Tēṣaṁ vakṣhēmi Lakṣaṇaṁ
Agādhēnāth Tōyēna
Vēṣṭitaṁ jalajaṁ Bhavēt 546

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Durarōhaṁ cha shailāgra
Mudakēna Samēvindatam
Giridurgaṁ samākhyātaṁ
Nītiśāstra viśāradaiḥ 547

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Pāṣāṇa Ghaṭitaṁ durgaṁ
sma durgamitirīyaṁ
Iṣṭakābhiḥ Kṛitaṁ Samyak
Sadāliptaṁ sunirmalaṁ 548

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Iṣṭikā durgamākhyātaṁ
Parīkhavēṣṭitaṁ Manat
Mṛiduvirachitaṁ Yattu
Taddurgaṁ Mṛittikēmayaṁ 549

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Vanadurgam samākhyātaṁ
Ghanakaṇṭa syakhibhiḥ
Antasthēya sañchitaṁ Tōyaṁ
Vahisthēne cha durlabhaṁ 550

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Marudurgam samakhyātam
Marudēśena samāyutaṁ
Dārubhirvēnubhir klaptaṁ
Durgaṁ Dārumayaṁ Smṛitaṁ 551"

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Śastrahastairmahāyōdhau Nirmitam
Naradurgakaṁ
Etēsamuttamaṁ durgaṁ
Girijaṁ Jalajaṁ Tatha 552

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Madhyamānitaranyabhuḥ
Kaniṣṭaṁ Naradurgam
Durge Yantrāṇi Karyāṇi
Nānā Praharaṇāni cha 553

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Durga Dwarāni guptāni
Karyanyāpi cha Dhūbhu
Sañchayāschatra
Sarvēsāmndhamādhānam
Vidheeyate 554"

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Somēśvara the author not only refers to the usual types of forts given down from the time of Kauṭilya but also mentions of some more varieties by bringing their number to nine. He gives a good account of locations different materials and qualitative durability of forts. The stone, the brick, the wood and the clay are the important materials for the relevant types of forts. The Giridurga (Fig.83) and Jaladurga (Fig. 87) should be constructed of stones only. The Vanadurga and Merud (Mrittika) durga should be made of bricks and clay. The Naradurga should be made of by arranging soldiers at the time of emergency. Among the normal fortifications, while Giridurgas and Jaladurgas stand with first rank, the second place is occupied by forest forts, clay forts as well. The forts created by arranging the array of soldiers i.e. Naradurgas are of third rate and most unsafe. According to Dr. Shama Sastry, R. (pp.3-4) "it is more or less a copy of the Arthasastra".

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A brief insight into the foregoing Silpa texts

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Theoretical Guidelines:

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As already dealt with here above, Kauṭilya was the first genius to give a good account regarding forts. According to him four broad classes are made in fortifications:

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1. Audhaka (water)
2. Parvata (Hill)
3. Dhanva (Desert) and
4. Vana (forest)

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He further cautions while choosing the site of forts to be very careful to the extent of that they should be devoid of external dangers.

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The next work is the Manusmriti. In it Manu classifies forts not only from the point of their location but also from the view point of their material and methods of protection. They are :

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1. Dhanva (Desert)
2. Mahi (Brick or Stone)
3. Āp (Water encircling)
4. Vraksha (surrounded by trees)
5. Nri (Nara) [fort consisting of chaturangabala] and
6. Giri (Hill fort)

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This work of Manu is more or less the same as the Arthasastra, excepting the two additions of types of forts viz.,Mahi and Nri.

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Next are the works of Puranas, of which the Matsya gives very important place to forts and classified them into six.

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1) Dhanus (Bow)
2) Mahi (of Brick or stone)
3) Nara (of soldiers)
4) Vriksha (trees)
5) Jala (water), and
6) Giri (Hill)

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It does not make any more additions to the earlier known types of forts.

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The Mānasāra very vividly draws up elaborate development in the canons of forts. It deals with specific plans for villages, towns and cities and equates all these with forts and stresses that each habitation, whether big or small, should be fortified according to its needs. Further, it classifies the institution of Kingship (Rāja) into sixfolds as:

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1) King,
2) Maṇḍalēsha,
3) Paṭṭadhara,
4) Narēndra,
5) Mahārāja, and
6) Chakravartin,

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it gives various breadths for each class of kings city-forts, varying from 400 rods to 1200 rods and from 1000 rods to 7000 rods or 10000 rods (1 Rod = 5'-1"):

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1) Rājadhānīya (Fig.91)
2) Kevala,
3) Nagara (Fig.89)
4) Nagarai,
5) Pura,
6) Khēta (Fig.89)
7) Kharvata (Fig.88), and
8) Kubjaka (Fig.89

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These eight are the new derivations in layouts. In addition to these types of layouts for habitations there are 8 kinds of forts altogether different from their predecessors in names and functions, namely:

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1) Śibira,
2) Vāhinī-mukha
3) Sthānīya
4) Drōna
5) Samviddha,
6) Kōdala
7) Nigama, and
8) Skandhavara

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Further it gives another classification based on constructional method broadly falling under the following heads:

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1) Dandaka (like stick or rod)
2) Sarvatōbhadra (strong from all sides)
3) Nandyāvarta (Abode of happiness)
4) Padmaka (Lotus)
5) Swastika (A mystical shape)
6) Prastara (Protuding shape )
7) Karmukha (Bow type), and
8) Chaturmukha (Four sided)

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These eight functional and constructional classifications are practically more or less, carried even into the modern forts; like capital forts (for kings), Cantonment forts (for emergent military operations) and out-post-forts (for border security).

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The subsequent works on the subject ranging in the period from the 6th century A.D. almost to 12th century A.D., like Purāṇas, Dharmaśāstra, Nītisāra of Kāmandaka, Nītivākyāmṛita, Viśva Karma Vāstu, Śilpa-Ratna and Mānasōllāsa or Abhilāśitārtha Chintāmaṇi are more or less similar in treatment of the subject to forts, to the earlier works of Arthaśāstra, Manusaṃmṛiti and Mānasāra etc.

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Now, the foregoing study of forts based on different works of Vāstu (Architecture) reveals that the ancient classified the forts on the basis of their,

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2) plan and shape, and
3) material used.

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As far as the location is concerned the Giridurga and Jaladurga are commonly dealt with. In plan and shape semi-circular, circular, square or rectangular forts are preferred to the triangular or oval shaped ones.

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From the point of material used, the forts built of stone and brick have higher place than those made of mud or wood.

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[Figure: CONJECTURAL PLAN OF FORT, AS ENUNCIATED IN ARTHASASTRA.

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[Figure: CONJECTURAL PLAN SHOWING FORTIFICATION WALL and TRIPPLE MOATS AS · ENVISAGED IN THE ARTHASASTRA . NOTE: THE IDENTICAL ATTEMPT CAN BE WITNESSED IN THE FORT OF BIDAR OF THE EARLY MEDIEVAL TIMES .

c18.s5.t1.41

[Figure: STONE PITCHING EMBANKMENT GL SECTION OF MOAT RAMP 6D 4D 10 D 12 D 14 D OUTSIDE GL I II III SECTION OF TRIPPLE MOATS BASED ON ARTHASĀSTRA. NOTE: 1 D• DANDA = 6fT; Ref: BÎDAR FORT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE WITH TRIPPLE MOATS

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[Figure: FIG. 81 CITADEL POSTERN 0 75 150 225 300 m. KALMADGI GATE CISTERN DELHI GATE MANDU GATE FORT TALGHAT GATE GATE KALYANI GATE TRIPLE GATE CARNATIC GATE TRIPLE MOAT DULHAN GATE MADRASA SHAHGANJ GATE CITY MANGALPET GATE MUNDA BURJ MOSQUE MOAT BÎDAR FORT SKJ FATEH GATE]

c18.s5.t1.43

[Figure: NISKUṞADWĀRA PATHAVĪṬIKAM JĀNUBHANJANĪ GL MOAT G1 SECTION (AFTER THE ARTHAŚĀSTRA) SHOWING EXIT LEADING ENEMY TO DEATH NOTE : - SUCH ATTEMPTS ARE NOTICED IN THE FORTS OF BÎDAR, BIJĀPUR etc.

c18.s5.t1.44

[Figure: RAMP 6 HASTĀS 12-24 HASTĀS 6 DANDAS MOAT
(i) : BULBOUS BASE WALL OF FOTIFICATION AS DESCRIBED IN ARTHA-ŚĀTRA.
(ii) : SAME CANON IS IDEALISED IN MĀLKHĒḌ FORT SK]

c18.s5.t1.45

[Figure: FORT WALL NIŚKURA DWĀRA & JĀNU BHANJANI GL GL SECTION SHOWING A NARROW PASSAGE, WITH THORNS MADE OF IRON ETC., TO DRIVE OUT ENEMY BASED ON THE ARTHAŚĀTRĀ. SIMILAR ATTEMPT IS MADE IN THE FORTS OF BĀDĀMI, BĪDAR & CHITRA- -DURGA.

c18.s5.t1.46

[Figure: STORE HOUSE OF ARMS PERFORATED STRUCTURE OF INDRA KŌŚA FOR GUARDS 30 DANDAS CONJECTURAL INDRA KŌŚA AND STORE HOUSES ON TOP OF FORTIFICATION WALL, AFTER THE ARTHAŚĀSTRA. NOTE : THIS EXAMPLE IS CITED IN THE FORTS OF MĀḶKHĒḌ, VIJAYANAGARA AND BIJĀPUR.

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ROADS FOR CHRIOTS & ELEPHANTS

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CONJECTURAL STONE PAVED SPECIAL ROADS FOR CHARIOTS. (AFTER THE ARTHASĀSTRA). NOTE: SIMILAR ROADS ARE NOTICED IN THE FORTS OF BĀDĀMI, MĀLKHĒḌ CHITRADURGA, AND VIJAYANĀGARA

c18.s5.t1.50

[Figure: FIG. 87 JALADURGA (WATER FORT) DETAILS OBTAINED FROM THE ARTHAS'ĀSTRA WATER HARBOUR SOLDIERS WATER WATER HARBOUR SCHEDULE
1. ROYAL PALACE
2. MINISTERS
3. PUBLIC OFFICES
4. KSHATRIYAS AND NOBLES
5. BRĀHMINS
6. POLICE
7. ARMS

c18.s5.t1.51

[Figure: FIG. 88 KHARVATA · FORT OR TOWN HILL ALL ROUND ARCHITECTS & ARTISANS KSHATRIYAS PUB. OFFICES PALACE NOBLES GUARDS TEMPLE MINISTERS KSHATRIYAS PRIESTS VAISHYAS HILL ALL ROUND GATE REF: P K ACHARYA: ARCHITECTURE OF MANASARA SHEET. NO XXIV

c18.s5.t1.52

[Figure: FIG. 89 GENERAL OUTLINES OF KHĒTA TOWN OR FORT BASED ON MĀNASĀRA BY P K ACHARYA SHEETNO: XXIV NOTE: KHĒTA IS NOT MEANT FOR KING & OTHER HIGHER CASTES RIVER SIDE GATES MARKET GODOWN FOR SŪDRĀS LAND SIDE

c18.s5.t1.53

GENERAL OUTLINE OF KUBJAKA TOWN OR FORT (MĀNASĀRA: P.K. ACHARYA, XXV RIVER SIDE KSHATRIYAS PUB OFFICES ARTISANS PALACE NOBLES VAIŚYĀS TEMPLE MINISTERS BRĀHMINS LAND SIDE

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[Figure: DRŌNA(A FORTRESS) NOTE: THE OTHER TYPES OF FORTS ARE MORE OR LESS OF THE SAME LAYOUT WITH MINOR DETAILS ENTRANCE BASTIONS VAIŚYAS MARKET ŚŪDRAS KSHATRIYAS PALACE PUB OFFICES TEMPLE BRAHMINS ARMY ARMY SERIES OF DITCHES BASED ON MĀNASĀRA SHEET NO XXXI (ED: P.K ACHARYA)

c18.s5.t1.55

[Figure: FIG 9.1 RĀJADHĀNĪYA LAY OUT CAPITAL FORTS FOR CHAKRAVARTIN KINGS Ref: P.K ACHARYA, MĀNASĀRA, SHEET NO: XXIII

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