Essay on the Architecture of the Hindus c4.s11: A Vimána Consisting of Fifteen Stories
Essay on the Architecture of the Hindus c4.s11
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- English
A Vimána Consisting of Fifteen Stories
c4.s11.1
(See Plate XXXV.)
c4.s11.2
"The height being divided into one hundred and ninety-four parts, seven to be given to the base; thirteen to the pillar, six and a-half to the entablature of the first story; twelve to the pillar, six to the entablature of the second; eleven to the pillar, five and a-half to the entablature of the third; ten to the pillar, and five to the entablature of the fourth; nine to the pillar, four and a-half to the entablature of the fifth; eight to the pillar, four to the entablature of the sixth, and so on up to the fifteenth story; the pillars being diminished by half a part regularly, and the entablatures half the height of the pillars over which they are placed; after which one part is given to the upper base, two to the *cant'ha*, four and a-half to the cupola, and one and a-quarter to the pinnacle."
c4.s11.3
The thirty-first chapter of the *Mánasára*, as well as the twenty-fourth of the *Máyámata*, treat of *gopuras*, or towers on the gateways of temples; from both which works a few extracts will be given below.
c4.s11.4
“There are five sorts of gateways, namely, *dwárasób’ha* (the gate of splendour), *dwárasála* (the gate of the mansion), *dwáraprasáda* (the propitious gate), *dwáraharmya* (the gate of the palace), and *dwáragópura* (the turreted gate). The breadth of the principal temple being divided into seven, eight, nine, ten, or eleven parts, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten are to be given to that of the five sorts of *gopuras* respectively. ‘These five sorts are to be employed in as many courts, by which the temple is to be surrounded.”
c4.s11.5
“A *dwárasób’ha* consists of one or two stories; a *dwarasála* of from two to four; a *dwáraprasáda*, of from three to five; a *dwárahamya*, of from five to seven; and a *dwáragópura*, of from seven to sixteen stories.”
c4.s11.6
“And the breadth of *gopuras*, of the superior sort, may be made twice that of the principal temple, or one and three-quarters, one and a-half, or one and a-quarter of it: or in *gopuras* of the inferior sort, the breadth of the principal temple being divided into four, five, six, or seven parts, one of these parts should be taken away, and the remainder given to the breadth of the former.”
c4.s11.7
“The breadth of the *gópura* at the bottom being divided into three parts; let one of them be given to the void space of the gate in the middle. ‘The height of the door-frame being divided into four parts, let one be given to the pedestal, one to the base, and two to the pillars, around the first story. Or, the same height being divided into seventeen parts, let five be given to the pedestal, four to the base, and eight to the pillars.’ The height of the door-frame should be twice its breadth.”
c4.s11.8
“The diameter of the *gópura* of a single story being divided into six parts, three to be given to the interior space, and three to the thickness of the walls.”
c4.s11.9
“The diameter of the *gópura* of two stories being divided into seven parts, four to be given to the interior space, and three to the thickness of the walls.”
c4.s11.10
“The diameter of the *gópura* of three stories being divided into nine parts, four to be given to the interior space, three to the thickness of the walls, and the remainder to the terrace around (*álindra*).”
c4.s11.11
“The diameter of the *gópura* of four stories being divided into ten parts, five to be given to the space inside, four to the thickness of the walls, and one to the terrace around.”
c4.s11.12
“The diameter of the *gópura* consisting of seven stories being divided into thirteen parts, eight to be given to the space inside, three to the thickness of the walls, and two to the terrace around,” and so with the rest.
c4.s11.13
Various denominations are next given to *gópuras*, such as *srícara*, *ravicánta*, *sawmya*, *vijaya*, *visálaca*, &c., and their characteristic ornaments described with too much minutenesss to be here detailed; and to these succeeds a no less minute enumeration of the various parts which compose *gópuras* of the several heights before-mentioned, of which I shall subjoin the divisions and proportions of those only which consist of one, two, five, six, and twelve stories, the designs of which accompany this essay.