The Hindu Temple v1.c4.s2.5

v1.c4.s2.5

In the 'Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra', a treatise on architecture, the author, King Bhoja of Dhārā, who ruled over Mālava in the first part of the eleventh century, says: "He, who begins to work as an architect (sthapati) without knowing the science of architecture (vāstuśāstra) and proud with false knowledge must be put to death by the king as one who ruins the kingdom (rājahiṃsaka); dead before his time, his ghost will wander on this wide earth. He, who though well versed in the traditional science is not skilled in the work will faint at the time of action like a timid man on the battle-field. He, who is expert only in his workmanship, but unable to understand the meaning of the traditional science, will like a blind man be misled by anyone" (S.S. XLIV. 6-10). Even so, he who knows the traditional science and its meaning and masters the craft, is not as yet the perfect architect. For immediate intuition, a readiness (pratyutpanna) of judgment (prajñā) in contingencies, and the ability to fuse them into the requirements of the whole, are the distinctions of a true Sthapati.¹⁶ It is then, that the builder himself, once his work is completed, is struck with wonder and exclaims: "Oh, how was it that I built it."¹⁷