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Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1: Volume 1

Vāstu-śāstra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1

Language
English

Contents

Volume 1

Front matter

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DUE DATE SLIP

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GOVT. COLLEGE, LIBRARY

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KOTA (Raj.)

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Students can retain library books only for two weeks at the most.

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| BORROWER'S No. | DUE DTATE | SIGNATURE |
| | | |

Vāstu-śāstra Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture

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VOL. I

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(Engineering, Town-Planning, Civil Architecture, Palace-Architecture, Temple-Architecture and an anthology of Vāstu-lakṣaṇas)

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D. N. SHUKLA M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt. PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SANSKRIT PUNJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH

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*Publishers* Vāstu-Vāṅmaya-Prakāśana-Śāla Shukla Kuti Faizabad Road Lucknow.

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PRICE RS. 50

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*Printers* Shukla Printing Press Nazirabad Lucknow.

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*Dedicated* *to* *Lord Siva*

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Whose monumental temples in Indian architectural heritage have formed the most inspiring fascination to the writer and whose towering edifices at Ellura, Bhuvaneśvara, Khajuraho and other renowned temple-sites are the crowning achievements of the Indian artisans and their gurus—the Sthapatis and the Sthāpakas.

Sūtrāṣṭakaṁ

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सूत्राष्टकं दृष्टिरुहस्तमौञ्जं कार्पासकं स्यादवलम्बसञ्ज्ञम्।
काष्ठं च सृष्ट्याख्यमतो विलेख्यमित्यष्टसूत्राणि वदन्ति तज्ज्ञाः ॥

Foreword

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Dr. Shukla desired me to write a foreword to his Vāstu-Śāstra Volume I, Hindu Science of Architecture, with special reference to Bhoja’s Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra. I naturally hesitated to accept his suggestion as I have no deep acquaintance with the subject so ably dealt with by Dr. Shukla in this Volume. I am, however, greatly interested in Vāstu-Śāstra and since this book deals with that science in a scientific manner, I have ventured to write a few words by way of foreword. We are reluctant to believe in Sanskrit Literature and lore anything other than Hymns, Sūtras, Philosophy, Religion, Mythology, Grammar, Poetry and Drama. As a matter of fact Sanskrit lore is a rich store-house of technical sciences and arts but no systematic presentation of the same has been done so far. From this point of view Dr. Shukla’s dedicated efforts in this realm of our ancient wisdom is a matter of great satisfaction. He has published more than half a dozen works on the subject of the Hindu canons of architecture, sculpture (iconography) and painting. These are understood by Sanskrit scholars like Shukla as constituting Vāstuśāstra, Śilpaśāstra and Citraśāstra. Two volumes on this subject are indeed of special interest and should be of special interest even to laymen. These two volumes are based on his Ph. D. and D.Litt. Theses and are published with the grants received from the University Grants Commission which consider these works as of high merit and high research scholarship. The perusal of expert opinions expressed by such eminent Indian scholars like Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Mirashi, Dr. J. N. Banerjea and Prof. C. D. Chatterjee will show how scholarly these works are I should think that Dr. Shukla deserves still greater credit and greater praise not only for the work done but for his high devotion to Sanskrit research in this branch of Indology. Probably he is the first earnest research scholar in this field.

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I find this work to be an extended study of Dr. Shukla’s Ph. D. Thesis “A study of Bhoja’s Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra, a treatise on the science of Architecture”. The Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra of King Bhojadeva is a datable work and in the opinion of Dr. Shukla it is the most authoritative and standard medieval compendium of Hindu canons of architecture, sculpture and painting Undoubtedly it is a scientific and systematic study by Dr. Shukla who is really a pioneer in this branch of Sanskrit lore. The value of the work is enhanced as critical study of five other important texts, namely, Mānasāra, Mayamata, Śilparatna, Aparājitapracchā and Viśvakarma-Vāstuśāstra is included. It is not my intention nor am I competent also to make any detailed comments on the work presented to the reader in this volume. I have no doubt scholars and experts will critically evaluate the same. I think I ought to observe that some of the themes have been elucidated by Dr. Shukla in a right, modern and scientific manner. These are fundamental canons of Hindu Architecture like site-planning what the ancient had termed Vāstupada-vinyāsa; the theory of orientation what is called Diṅnirṇaya and the importance of the rythm in the structures, the Chandas etc. A perusal of the code of masonry, its virtues and defects and the demarcation of the three broad divisions of architecture, the civil or secular architecture, the aristocratic architecture or palace-architecture and the devotional or religious architecture, will convincingly show that the Hindus had developed all the three kinds of architecture in ancient times.

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From the stand-point of pure research the preparation of voluminous anthologies of Vāstu-lakṣaṇas, Pratimā-lakṣaṇas and Citra-lakṣaṇas by Dr. Shukla is indeed a contribution of no small importance. It is altogether a new presentation in the contemporary Sanskrit scholarship and research and I am sure even the more orthodox Sanskrit scholars would appreciate the new research technique as initiated and enunciated by Dr. Shukla. In this volume, it appears that Dr Shukla has fully used all that has been said or written about the subject concerned and he has acknowledged it himself. Both these works, namely Vāstuśāstra Vol. I and Vāstuśāstra Vol. II represent a lucid survey of the whole field of this technical branch of Sanskrit lore. Dr. J. N. Banerjea has stated that Dr. Shukla should have included the illustrations from amongst the Indian monuments which are really our rich architectural heritage. However, I hope that Dr. Shukla will take this into consideration when he publishes his volume no. III which, I understand, is going to be the concluding volume to complete the survey not only on Śāstric lines but on objective lines as well.

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I have no doubt that the public, both expert and lay, will find this work of great value. Modern engineers, in particular, will find this volume a source of inspiration, something that will provoke thought and may possibly bring some contribution to current thinking on the subject. Such works shall take a long time to be appreciated and longer time still for being re-printed. From this point of view, it is necessary that the first edition should be excellently printed and excellently edited. Study of sanskrit is becoming more popular after independence but I feel the tradition of devoted and dedicated work, particularly, in Sanskrit research, is not well-sustained. A scientific and sy tematic outlook in the interpretation of Sanskrit lore deserves to be encouraged. Dr. Shukla's research work, I am sure, will inspire younger generation to undertake such work. In conclusion I hope that Dr. Shukla completes all the ten volumes of this particular branch of Indology as he has contemplated.

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I wish him success in this.

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RAJ BHAWAN, CHANDIGARH, *15th March, 1961.*

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*Governor, Punjab.*

Introduction

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This Vāstu-Śāstra Vol. I—Hindu Canons of Engineering and Architecture, though first in the series of my research publications in English is seeing the light of the day after the Vāstu Śāstra Vol. II.—Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting, had already been presented to the scholarly world more than a year back. Both these Volumes have for their nuclei my Doctoral Theses—Ph. D. (Vol. I) and D.Litt. (Vol. II). In this way this Volume may be said to have come out after a long interval.

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A study of Bhoja’s Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra—a treatise on the science of architecture was submitted as my Ph. D. thesis some six years back. I was very much encouraged by the glowing tributes to this thesis, being acclaimed as a pioneer work—vide the reports of the examiners, appended at the end of this introduction. I therefore, set for myself to extend the study from a single text to at least half a dozen representative texts like Viśvakarma-prakāśa, Aparājita-pṛcchā, Mānasāra, Mayamata and Śilparatna. Naturally this very ambitious undertaking needed some more concentrated time, the availability of which has been a very distant hope for the last so many years as I have been busy not only with my D. Litt. researches, but also with my research publications in Hindi as well, with the subsidies received from the U. P. Government. Meanwhile that illustrious sociologist economist and indologist Dr. R. K. Mukerjee, the then (1954–56) Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, took great fancy in my theses on account of their high merit and higher tributes and recommended their publications to the U. G. C. which sanctioned a grant of Rs.6000 for the publication of my theses. Prof. Iyer the next Vice-Chancellor also agreed to recommend for some more help towards the completion of work. Hence a further subsidy of Rs. 4000 enabled me to undertake the publication of this Volume also. Both these Volumes in a way may be said to complete the grand edifice of Vāstu-śāstra, which is not only the science of architecture, engineering but also that of sculpture and painting. Accordingly all these three broad divisions of Vāstu Śāstra, namely Vāstu, Śilpa and Citra, have been surveyed in both these Volumes. The Vāstu i.e. architecture being the subject matter of the first Volume and Śilpa and Citra that of the second. Further again Vāstu in its wider application has at least five principal branches namely Engineering, Town-planning, Secular or Civil architecture (residential houses for common middle class people), Palace-architecture and Temple-architecture. It is in accordance with these broad topics of Vāstu Śāstra (in its narrower denotation and connotation) that this Volume has been divided into five principal parts namely Introductory, Town-planning, House-architecture, Palace Architecture and Temple-architecture.

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It is needless to say any thing in detail in regard to these parts as every part has been preceded by some introductory remarks and the readers are referred to the introductory chapters of these parts. Here I am more concerned to introduce the broad subject of this Volume. As already pointed out, this Volume is an extended study of my Ph D. Thesis-A Study of Bhoja’s Samarāṅgaṇa's Sūtradhāra. I am really happy to say that this very elaborate, complete and authoritative medieval manual of Vāstu-Śāstra has-now become a household name among the students of architecture—vide my so many publications centering round this magnificent work written by that illustrious king whose name is a household name among Indians. This work really fascinated me so much that I simply overdid it and it is under duress that I am writing this introduction—vide my prolonged ailments consequent upon too much exhausting myself during the last ten years of my researches centering round the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra of king Bhojadeva of Dhārā. It is really very difficult to study such a technical work and to present a scientific and systemetic exposition of such a technical subject, more so when there was no previous guidance. A good many scholars, notably Indians (vide the presidential addresses of technical-sciences-section of A. I. O. Conference particularly of Dr. Moti Chand) have talked very lightly of these ancient manuals of Hindu Science of Architecture. This gave me a great impetus to refute this very low estimation by the Indian scholars themselves. I cannot claim to be the first interpreter of this ancient wisdom. Ramraz and Dr. P. K. Acharya, Dr. Bhattacharya, Prof. Kramrisch and others have preceded me no doubt, but without any self-praise, I must say that my approach is altogether a new approach to this hitherto uninvestigated branch of Indology. Ramraz only summarized the contents of Mānasāra, Dr Acharya's contribution confine to the edition, translation and dictionary of Mānasāra and Dr. Bhattacharya's pre-occupation with the historical genesis made him too much absorbed in non-scientific matters. Nevertheless his approach to some of the architectural problems may be said to be pioneering. The domain of Prof. Kramrisch and Dr. Mallaya were limited in the sense that both these scholars have expounded the canons of Temple-architecture only, though Prof. Kramrisch's Hindu Temple is a land mark in contemporary studies in Temple-architecture and we all owe a debt of gratitude to this gifted and eminent writer who had the credit to open an altogether new vista of vision in explaining the depth of the Hindu Temple. As regards myself my means and resources have been too meagre to cope with very highly ambitious and zealous undertaking and despite these shortcomings my diety has enabled me to complete the high edifice of my Vāstu-Śāstra Research in as many as six (four Hindi and two English) Volumes. I simply do not know how could I do it. In my youthful zeal and magnetic pursuit I simply could not foresee the very hard undertaking. I had to pursue this undertaking in a dedicated manner and the hard labour of these full six years has simply crippled me and I feel exhausted and thus my research project of ten to fourteen volumes seems to be a distant hope. Situated as we are we have no encouragement, nor are there avenues for our labour to be fully recognised. We have not yet developed detached tradition where personal ambition must be put down in the consideration of merit and scholarship.

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With this little digression let me now come to my introduction to this volume, in broad outlines. As already indicated that my Ph.D. thesis. ‘A Study of Bhoja’s Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra’—a treatise on Hindu Science of Architecture has formed the nucleus of this Volume. I really wanted to extend my presentation in the light of at least six representative texts but due to paucity of space and patience and necessary resources, I could extend only the first part to my satisfaction. To some extent a good deal has been added in practically all parts. The antiquity of town-planning, the rise of Indian towns, villages etc. (vide part II), recast of palace architecture along with its accessory buildings and pleasure-devices and the cognate, state buildings are altogether a new introduction. Similarly an outline history of Hindu Temple in its different styles is also a fulfilment of characteristic design to co-relate the manuals and the monuments both.

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This is so far as the extension of the previous work is concerned. An altogether new approach in the contemporary studies on Hindu Architecture is the preparation of Vāstulakṣaṇa having culled the material from the representative text books. This is a poineering attempt. We did have Pratimālakṣaṇa, but so far we never had Vāstulakṣaṇa. It is a parallel and corresponding approach between the study and sources. Like my Pratimālakṣaṇa--vide Vāstu-Śāstra Volume II—Hindu Cannons of Iconography and Painting, this Vāstulakṣaṇa has also been prepared under suitable scientific headings and it now reads like an independent treatise on the Vāstu-Sāstra. My only disappointment is that I could not

Contents

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| | | PAGE |
| Dedication | ... | 3 |
| Sūtrāṣṭakam | ... | 4 |
| Preface | ... | 4(a&b) |
| Introduction | ... | 5–9 |
| Contents | ... | 10–19 |
| Bhāratīya Vāstu-Śāstrā Series | ... | 20 |
| Opinions of the Experts | ... | 21–24 |

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PART I

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THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS

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| CHAPTER I—Introductory. | ... | 25–33 |
| (i) General Introduction | ... | 25–31 |
| (ii) The Method of treatment | ... | 31–32 |
| (iii) The Method of study | ... | 32–33 |
| CHAPTER II—The Scope and Subject Matter of Architecture | | 34–43 |
| (i) SCOPE | | |
| (a) Philosophical and Cosmological | ... | 33–36 |
| (b) Metaphysical | ... | 36 |
| (c) Astronomical—Astrological | ... | 36–37 |
| (d) Geographical and Geological | ... | 37–38 |
| (e) Architectural proper | ... | 38–39 |
| (ii) SUBJECT MATTER | ... | 39–43 |
| CHAPTER III—The Architect and Architecture | ... | 44–49 |
| The Sthapati and his equipment | ... | 44–45 |
| 1. Knowledge of the Science—Śāstra | ... | 45–46 |
| 2. Practical Experience Karma | ... | 46–47 |
| 3. The personal insight, Prajñā | ... | 47 |
| 4. The Character, Śīla | ... | 47–48 |
| The eight-fold Sthāpatya | ... | 48–49 |
| CHAPTER IV—An Outline History of Hindu Architecture—both as Science and Art | ... | 50–88 |
| Origin of Indian Architecture | ... | 50–56 |
| Rise of Śāstra and the place of Viśvakarmā | ... | 56–60 |
| Maya | ... | 61–62 |
| Other Acharyas | ... | 62–63 |

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As per the different authorities:

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| (i) Matsyapurāṇa | ... | 63 |
| (ii) Agnipurāṇa | ... | 63 |
| (iii) Bṛhatsaṃhitā | ... | 63 |
| (iv) Mānasāra | ... | 64 |
| (v) Sanatkumāra Vāstu-śāstra | ... | 64 |
| (vi) Viśvakarma-Vāstu-śāstra | ... | 64 |
| A. Names associated with the treatises | ... | 65 |
| B. Names cited as authorities in: | ... | 65–66 |
| C. Names, the passages from whose works are quoted | | 66–67 |
| Acharyas of the Dravidian or Southern School | ... | 67 |
| Acharyas of Nāgara or Northern School | ... | 67 |
| Vāstu Literature | ... | 67–68 |
| Vedic Literature | ... | 68 |
| Architectural tradition in the Ṛgveda | ... | 68–69 |
| Later Vedas and Brāhmaṇas | ... | 70–71 |
| Sūtras | ... | 71–72 |
| Epics | ... | 72–73 |
| Buddhist literature—Jātakas and Canons | ... | 73–75 |
| Pālī Canons | ... | 75–76 |
| Kauṭilya’s Artha śāstra | ... | 76–77 |
| Purāṇas | ... | 78–80 |
| Āgamas | ... | 80 |
| Tantras | ... | 81 |
| Bṛhat-saṃhitā | ... | 81 |
| Pratiṣṭhā class of works | ... | 81–82 |
| Miscellaneous works | ... | 82 |
| Śilpa Texts | ... | 82–84 |
| Rise of Art | ... | 84–88 |

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CHAPTER V—Study of Hindu Science of Architecture ... 89–178

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(A study of representative or principal texts)

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| Viśvakarmā’s works | ... | 90 |
| Viśvakarma-Vāstu-śāstra | ... | 90–97 |
| Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra | ... | 98 |
| Re-arrangements of its chapters | ... | 98–102 |
| Contents chapter-wise | ... | 102–144 |
| Aparājita-pṛcchā | ... | 144–147 |
| Its subject matter | ... | 147–154 |
| Mānasāra | ... | 154–163 |
| Mayamata | ... | 163–170 |
| Śilparatna | ... | 170–177 |
| Its re-arrangement | ... | 177–178 |

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| CHAPTER VI — Fundamental Canons of Hindū Architecture | ... | 179–224 |
| I. Diṅnirṇaya or Prācīsādhana | ... | 180–185 |
| II. Vāstu-pada-vinyāsa—The plan | .. | 185–205 |
| A general introduction | ... | 185–194 |
| Site-plans | ... | 194 |
| The plot of 81 squares | ... | 195 |
| The internal and external deities | ... | 195–202 |
| The Nighaṇṭus | .. | 202–205 |
| III. Māna—Hastalakṣaṇa | . . | 205–211 |
| Aṅgula | .. | 208–209 |
| Hasta | ... | 209–211 |
| IV. Āyādi Saḍvarga | ... | 211–217 |
| Mānasāra formula | ... | 215 |
| Formula of the other texts | ... | 215–217 |
| V. Patākādi Saṭ-chandas | ... | 217–224 |
| Meru | ... | 220 |
| Khaṇḍa Meru | ... | 221 |
| Patākā | ... | 221 |
| Sūcī | ... | 221–222 |
| Uddiṣṭa | ... | 222 |
| Naṣṭa | ... | 222–223 |
| The so-called Bathos of Dravidian Temples | ... | 223–224 |
| PART II | | |
| CANONS OF TOWN PLANNING | ... | 225–300 |
| Introductory | ... | 227–228 |
| CHAPTER I—Antiquity of Town Planning in India and Origin and Growth of Indian Towns. | ... | 229–242 |
| Antiquity | ... | 229–236 |
| Origin and growth of Indian Towns | ... | 236–242 |
| CHAPTER II—Villages, Towns and Forts in general | ... | 243–260 |
| Villages | ... | 243–250 |
| Village as a unit of town planning | ... | 244–246 |
| Viśvakarma--vāstu-śāstra | ... | 246–247 |
| Mānasāra | ... | 247–248 |
| Mayamata and Śilparatna | ... | 248–250 |
| Towns or Cities | ... | 250–256 |
| Viśvakarma-vāstu-śāstra | ... | 250 |
| Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra | ... | 251–52 |
| Aparājitapṛcchā | ... | 252–253 |
| Mānasāra | ... | 253 |
| Mayamata | ... | 253–256 |

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| Forts or Durgas | ... | 256-260 |
| Viśvakarma-vāstu-śāstra | ... | 256–257 |
| Mānasāra and Mayamata | ... | 257–258 |
| Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra | ... | 258–260 |
| CHAPTER III—Preliminaries of town-planning | ... | 261–267 |
| (a) Regional Planning | ... | 261–262 |
| (b) Land and Landscape suited to an ideal town | ... | 262–263 |
| (c) Geological Survey | ... | 263–267 |
| CHAPTER IV—Road Planning | ... | 268-274 |
| Three-fold function of the roads | ... | 268 |
| Road planning and Site planning | ... | 268–269 |
| S. S.’s 34 roads in modern town and their characteristic features | ... | 269–271 |
| Broad elements of road planning | ... | 271–273 |
| Evidence of Mayamata and Mānasāra | ... | 273–274 |
| CHAPTER V—Jāti-varṇādhivāsa (Folk Planning) | ... | 275–281 |
| What is folk-planning | ... | 275 |
| Folk-planning and site-planning | ... | 275–276 |
| According to the S. S. | ... | 276–280 |
| According to other authorities—Śukra etc. | ... | 280–281 |
| CHAPTER VI—Deification and Beautification of Towns | ... | 282–285 |
| (A) Temples | ... | 282 |
| 1. External location of deities | ... | 282–283 |
| 2. Internal location | ... | 283–284 |
| (B) Gardens etc. | ... | 284–285 |
| CHAPTER VII—Fortification | ... | 286–291 |
| CHAPTER VIII—Inauspicious Towns | ... | 292–294 |
| CHAPTER IX—Conclusion-Modern town-planning and what it can learn from the S. S. | ... | 295–300 |

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PART III

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CIVIL OR SECULAR ARCHITECTURE ... 301–354

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| Introductory | ... | 303–304 |
| CHAPTER I—Preliminaries | ... | 305–306 |
| CHAPTER II—Buildings in general | ... | 307–309 |
| CHAPTER III—Origin and development of human houses (The story of the first house on the earth) | ... | 310–312 |
| CHAPTER IV—Śālā Houses | ... | 313-320 |
| General | ... | 313–316 |
| Meaning and classification of Śālā houses | ... | 316–318 |
| The Varieties | ... | 318–319 |
| A Critical Estimate | ... | 319–320 |

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CHAPTER V—Planning of Śālas—The House plans and building byelaws ... 321–326 House plans ... 321–324 Ekaśālās ... 324 Dviśālās ... 324 Building byelaws ... 324–325 Time etc. ... 325–326 Secular regulation ... 326 CHAPTER VI—The construction of the Śālās ... 327–331 The masonary ... 327–329 The material—The wood ... 329–331 CHAPTER VII—The Principal Components—The door ... 332–337 General Dimensions ... 332–335 Qualities ... 335 Defects ... 335–336 Decoration ... 336 Dvāra-vedha ... 337 CHAPTER VIII—The Pillar and other members ... 338–344 The Pillar ... 338–339 The Component parts and mouldings ... 339–342 The other component parts and moulding of the house ... 339–342 The Bhavanāṅgas ... 342–344 CHAPTER IX—House Decoration and other Equipments ... 345–348 A. House decoration ... 345–347 B. Other Equipments ... 347–348 CHAPTER X—The Defect of Houses and Varieties of Defective Houses ... 349–350 General Defects ... 350 CHAPTER XI—Concluding Remarks ... 351–354 Modern House-Planning and what it can gain from the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra ... 351–354

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PART IV

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PALACE ARCHITECTURE & PALACE PLEASURES 355–392

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Introductory ... 357–358 CHAPTER I—Palace Architecture ... 359–366 Rāja Veśma ... 359–361 Names of Establishments ... 361–362 Question of courts and other criteria ... 363–366 CHAPTER II—Accessory Structures ... 367–371 The Sabhā ... 367–368

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| The Aśvaśālā | ... | 368-371 |
| 1. Planning of the stable proper | ... | 368 |
| 2. The equipment of the stable | ... | 369 |
| 3. The Shed | ... | 370 |
| 4. Medical house | ... | 371 |
| The Gajaśālā | ... | 371 |
| CHAPTER III—Palace Pleasures—The Mechanical Contrivances, the Yantras | ... | 372-388 |
| Introductory | ... | 372-374 |
| Yantra and its elements | ... | 374-376 |
| The Earthly | ... | 376 |
| The Allies | ... | 376-377 |
| The Qualities of a Yantra and its Functions | ... | 377-379 |
| (A) Qualities (Yantra-guṇas) | ... | 377-379 |
| (B) Functions—(Karmas) | ... | 379 |
| The Varieties of Yantras | ... | 380-386 |
| (i) Yantras for Amusements | ... | 380-381 |
| (ii) Domestic and defensive yantras | ... | 381 |
| (iii) Machines for warfare | ... | 381-382 |
| (iv) Conveyance machines (The yāna-yantras) | ... | 382 |
| (v) Water machines Dhārā-yantra | ... | 382 |
| Dhārāgṛha and its types | ... | 382-384 |
| Dolāgṛha, the Ratha-dolā and its types | ... | 384-385 |
| The Aeroplane—Vimānayantra | ... | 385-386 |
| Conclusion | ... | 387-388 |
| CHAPTER IV—State or public buildings | ... | 389-392 |
| Nāṭya-śālā | ... | 389-390 |
| Pustaka-śālā | ... | 390 |
| Vidyābhavana | ... | 390 |
| Nāṭaka-saṅgīta-Śālā | ... | 390-391 |
| Mārga-śālā | ... | 391-392 |
| 10 Varieties of Kūpa | ... | 392 |
| 4 Types of Vāpīs | ... | 392 |
| 4 Types of Kuṇḍas | ... | 392 |
| 6 Types of Taḍāgas | ... | 392 |
| PART V | | |
| TEMPLE—ARCHITECTURE | ... | 393-576 |
| Introductory | ... | 395-396 |
| CHAPTER I—The Denotation and the connotation of the term Prāsāda—the Hindu Temple | ... | 397-404 |
| Words denoting devotional places | ... | 397-399 |

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Vimāna ... 399-400 Prāsāda ... 400-402 Organic Theory ... 402-404 CHAPTER II—The origin of the Prāsāda Vāstū ... 405-414 Vimāna—the model of the Prāsāda ... 404-406 The testimony of the Samarāṅgaṇa ... 406 The Testimony from Dr. Ramaniya ... 407 The 3rd evidence in relation to the evolution of stone-architecture ... 407 The different origins—Citi etc. ... 408-414
1. Citi, the Vedic Altar
2. The Dolmen
3. The Shed of the Initiation
4. The Tabernacle
5. The Image of the Mountain
6. The Image of Cavern
7. Philosophical background CHAPTER III—The Development of the Prāsāda Vāstu ... 415-424 General enunciation ... 415-417
1. Pyramidal superstructure the Vimānas ... 417-421
2. Curvilinear superstructure—the Śikharottama Prāsādas ... 421-424 CHAPTER IV—Prāsāda Styles ... 425-334 Nāgara ... 425-429 Drāviḍa ... 429-430 Vesara ... 430-432 Vāvāṭa ... 432-433 Bhūmija and Lāṭa ... 433-434 CHAPTER V—Pre S. S. Classification of Temple ... 435-441 General introduction ... 435-436 (A) Southern ... 437-438 (B) Northern ... 438-440 Concluding estimate ... 440-441 CHAPTER VI—Classification of temples as given in the S.S. ... 442-453 General remarks ... 442 Group A—Early Lāṭa temples ... 444-448 I. Type—Rucaka etc. 64 temples ... 445-446 II. Type Śikharottamas ... 446-447 III. Type Storeyed edifices ... 447-448 Group B—Later Lāṭa style ... 449-451 I. Type—Meru etc. 16 varieties ... 449

v1.c6.21

| II. Type—Meru etc. 20 Prāsādas | ... | 449 |
| III. Type—Śrīdhara etc. 40 Prāsādas of Pure varieties | ... | 449 |
| IV. Type—Nanda etc. 10 mixed varieties | ... | 449 |
| Group C—Nāgara Prāsādas | ... | 450–451 |
| I. Type—The 20 temples, the traditional Nāgara Prāsādas | ... | 450 |
| II. Type—Śrīkūṭa etc. 36 temples | ... | 450–451 |
| Group D—Drāviḍa Prāsādas | ... | 451 |
| Five fold Pīṭhas | ... | 451 |
| Five fold Talacchandas | ... | 451 |
| Group E—Regional styles: the mixed ones | ... | 452 |
| 1. Vāvāṭa Prāsādas | ... | 452 |
| 2. Bhūmija Prāsādas | ... | 452–453 |
| CHAPTER VII — Planning of Prāsāda — The Hindu Temple | ... | 454–461 |
| (a) Significance | ... | 454–455 |
| (b) Purpose | ... | 455–456 |
| (c) Sthapati and Sthāpaka | ... | 456–457 |
| (d) Vāstu-maṇḍala and Vāstupuruṣa | ... | 457–459 |
| (e) The Material and the measurements | ... | 459–460 |
| (i) Material | ... | 459–460 |
| (ii) Measurements | ... | 460 |
| (f) Ornamentation and Moulding | ... | 460–461 |
| (g) The consecration of the temple and installation of the image. | ... | 461 |
| CHAPTER VIII—Prāsāda Maṇḍapa | ... | 462–465 |
| General introduction | ... | 462–463 |
| 1st Group—Bhadrat etc. 8 maṇḍapas | ... | 464 |
| 2nd Group—Puṣpaka etc. 27 maṇḍapas | ... | 464 |
| Other details | ... | 464–465 |
| CHAPTER IX—Prāsāda Jagatīs | ... | 466–470 |
| Meaning of Jagatī—not a socle alone | ... | 466–467 |
| The planning of Jagatī in accordance to the śālā upon it | ... | 467 |
| Group A—39 square Jagatīs | ... | 467 |
| " B—18 rectangular " | ... | 468 |
| " C— 5 circular " | ... | 468 |
| " D— 6 elliptical " | ... | 468 |
| " E— 9 octagonal " | ... | 468 |
| Jagatīs in the S. S. are an innovation | ... | 468–470 |

v1.c6.22

| CHAPTER X—Vimāna Vāstu | ... | 471–473 |
| Vimāna | ... | 471–472 |
| Prākāras and Gopuras | ... | 472–473 |
| CHAPTER XI—The Correspondence of the Prāsādas of the S. S. with monuments. | | 474–481 |
| Scope of the correspondence | ... | 474–476 |
| The word for the Prāsāda | ... | 476–477 |
| Substances of the Prāsāda | ... | 477–478 |
| Proportionate measurments of the Prāsādas | ... | 478–479 |
| Superstructure of the Prāsāda | ... | 479–481 |
| Conclusion | ... | 481 |
| CHAPTER XII—An outline History of Hindu Temple | ... | 482–575 |
| Layanas etc. | ... | 482–495 |
| Layanas | ... | 482–485 |
| Guhādharas (Ajantā) | ... | 485–489 |
| Guhārājas | ... | 489–495 |
| Ellora | ... | 491–494 |
| Elephanta | ... | 494 |
| Mamallapuram | ... | 494–495 |
| Stūpas | ... | 495–499 |
| Chādya Prāsādas and Sabhā Maṇḍapas | ... | 499–502 |
| Gupta temples | ... | 500 |
| Chalukyan temples | ... | 500–502 |
| Bhaumika Vimānas | ... | 502–521 |
| General Canons | ... | 502–512 |
| Pallava Phase | ... | 512–513 |
| Kailāśa Nātha and Vaikuṇṭha Perumal | ... | 513–514 |
| Cola temples | ... | 514–515 |
| Pāṇḍya Prākārams and Gopurams | ... | 515–516 |
| Vijaya Nagar Style | ... | 516–517 |
| Madura—the final phase | ... | 517–519 |
| Mīnākṣī—Sundareśvara | ... | 519 |
| Śrī-Rangam | ... | 520 |
| Jambukeśvara | ... | 520 |
| Rameśvaram | ... | 520 |
| Chidambaram | ... | 520–521 |
| Śikharottama Prāsādas | ... | 521–546 |
| General Canons | ... | 521–524 |
| The Cluster of Ś a | ... | 524–525 |
| Śikhara enmeshed in Gavākṣas | ... | 525–527 |
| Orissa | ... | 527–533 |
| 1. Bhuvaneśvara | ... | 527–531 |

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| 2. Purī | ... | 531-532 |
| 3. Koṇārak | ... | 532-533 |
| Khajuraho | ... | 533-536 |
| Rajasthan and Central India | ... | 536-538 |
| 1. Eran in Saugor district of Central India | ... | 537 |
| 2. Pathari | ... | 537 |
| 3. Gyaspura | ... | 537 |
| 4. Udayapur | ... | 537 |
| 5. Osia | ... | 537-538 |
| Gujarat and the west | ... | 538-541 |
| Sūrya temple at Modhera | ... | 540 |
| Temple of Vimal | ... | 541 |
| Rudra Mal | ... | 541 |
| Soma Nātha | .. | 541 |
| Temples of Deccan | ... | 541-543 |
| Ambar Natha | ... | 542-543 |
| The temples at Gwalior & Brindavan | ... | 543-546 |
| Gwalior temples | ... | 543-544 |
| Telī-kā-Mandira | ... | 543 |
| Sās Bahu | ... | 543-544 |
| Brindavana | ... | 544-546 |
| Vāvāṭa and Bhūmija Prāsādas | ... | 546-553 |
| Vāvāṭa Prāsādas—Hoysal style | ... | 546-550 |
| Mysore state | ... | 547-549 |
| Belur temples | ... | 549 |
| Hoysaleśvara temple | ... | 549-550 |
| Bhūmija | ... | 551 |
| Mayurbhanja | ... | 551-553 |
| Temple Architecture in Border lands | ... | 553-562 |
| Kashmir | ... | 553-557 |
| Buddhist remains | ... | 553-554 |
| Brahmanical remains | ... | 554-557 |
| Nepal | ... | 557-559 |
| Burma | ... | 559-560 |
| Early Phase | ... | 559 |
| Classical Art and Pagan | ... | 559-560 |
| Ceylon | ... | 560-562 |
| Anuradhapur remains | ... | 561-562 |
| Hindu Temple Architecture in Greater India | ... | 562-575 |
| Cambodia | ... | 562-566 |
| Siam | ... | 566-570 |
| Champa | ... | 570-571 |
| Java and Bali | ... | 571-572 |
| Boro Budur | ..., | 573-574 |
| Prambanan | .. | 574-675 |
| Hindu Architecture in Outer India | ... | 575 |
| Appendices | ... | 575-590 |
| Vāstu-lakṣaṇam—An anthology culled from Original Sanskrit Texts (१-२५८) | ... | 591-848 |

Expert Opinions

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Ph.D. Thesis :

v1.c7.2

Extracts from the report of Dr. J. N. Banerjea, M. A., Ph. D., F.A.S., Charmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Calcutta University, Calcutta.

v1.c7.3

Scholars intending to go in for advanced studies should be encouraged to take up such subjects as require not only the basic equipment of a good knowledge of Sanskrit, but also a sound idea about the technicalities of the artistic and architectural remains of ancient India. Shri Shukla is an eminent Sanskritist, and he possesses a thorough idea about the nature and quality of the architecture of the ancient Indian people. He is thus eminently fit for scientific appraisal of such a highly technical work like the Samarangana-Sutradhara of king Bhoja. The treatise is a very elaborate work on the laṭā school of Indian Architecture. It has not so far been systematically and scientifically studied, though some Purvacharyas had made occasional use of it. Shri Shukla's work is, thus, a sort of pioneer work, and it deserves full appreciation and praise for breaking new grounds.

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Bhoja's monumental treatise, though dealing pre-eminently with the science of Indian architecture, does not fail to treat such allied topics as sculpture (iconography) and painting. The former technically known as, Vastuvidya comprises within it the other two branches of the Silpasastras, which can in a way be regarded as its adjuncts. Many of the recognized and authoritative works on the Silpasastra seldom omit treatment of these allied topics while mainly dealing with the architectural science. This work also deals with various other topics like 'Town-planning', 'The Construction of Machines' (*Yantra-ghatana*). 'The Construction of Household Furniture—Cots and Couches' (*Sayanasana*), etc.

v1.c7.5

It is thus a much more comprehensive work than many others of a similar nature, and a critical and scientific study of it has long been a desideratum.

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Shri Shukla's thesis is divided into eight parts, the last two of which deal with iconography as associated with sculpture and painting. The first six parts of it treat of such highly interesting topics as 'Town Planning', 'House Architecture', 'Temple Architecture' 'The Construction of Machines', 'The Articles of Household Furniture' etc., with the usual introductory chapters in the beginning and the Appendices in the end. In the last part (VIII)—Appendices), the author includes charts on site plans, road plans and plan of a palace as well as extensive quotations from the text of Samarangana-Sutradhara, subjectwise. In page 14 of his introductory chapter, he has tried to rearrange the chapters of the text (first 48 ones) in a coherent manner, the arrangement of which in the edited text seems to have been faulty. In all this task he has seldom failed to make full use of the contributions of previous authors on Indian architecture and allied subjects in a critical manner, and to substantiate his own conclusions on the basis of proper evaluation of comprehensive data. The author's own contribution has thus been of a very high order, and the award of the Ph.D. degree is the least credit that can be given to him for this type of scientific and conscientious labour.

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D.Litt. Thesis:

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Extracts from the Reports of Dr. Shukla's D. Litt. Thesis—"Foundations and Canons of Hindu Iconography."

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Mahamahopadhyaya—Dr. V. V. Mirashi : This brief account of the contents of the four books submitted by the author will show how comprehensively he has dealt with the subjects of iconography and painting. These subjects have, indeed, already attracted some eminent scholars who have made notable contributions to our knowledge about them. The merit of Shri Shukla's work lies in this that he has tapped Sanskrit sources exhaustively. This will be seen from the list of fifty-five works which he has appended at the end of his Pratima-Lakshanam. He has also drawn upon the previous works of several authors such as R. C. Bhandarkar, P. V. Kane, Stella Kramrisch, P. C. Brown, Raghavan, Sivaramamurti etc. He has analysed his material thoroughly and has collected all available information under several heads. We have thus in one place all available material bearing on iconography and painting in the existing Silpasastras ... ....Many of the works which treat of iconography and painting have come down to us in a corrupt form. Again, they abound in technical terms, the meaning of some of which is now far from certain. Dr. Shukla's good knowledge of Sanskrit has enabled him to restore original readings in some cases. He has also succeeded in giving plausible explanations of several judicious uses of the words of previous writers and has exercised independent judgment in several places. All these books testify to the immense labour which he has spent in collecting material and the ingenuity he has displayed in interpreting it. The author has taken infinite pains in writing these works which are packed with information about iconography and painting. He has considerably advanced our knowledge of these subjects by his devoted labours. I heartily recommend him for the award of the D.Litt. degree of the Lucknow University, without further examination.

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**Dr. J. N. Banerjea**—Dr. D. N. Shukla, M. A., Ph. D., at present of the Gorakhpur University, earned the Ph. D. Degree of the University of Lucknow sometime ago by his well-written thesis on Bhoja's Samarangana-Sutradhara, a mediaeval Sanskrit Anthology throwing a flood of light on architecture (Vastuvidya and other allied arts of ancient India). The works now submitted by him for the D. Litt degree of the same University are on Hindu Iconography, Hindu Canons of Painting, Pratima Vijnana and Pratima Lakshanam, the first two being in English and the last two being written in Hindi. These works, all printed, contain valuable information about the iconographic and pictorial art as practised by the Silpis of ancient India. Numerous are the source materials which have been culled by him from a wide range of Sanskrit texts of a varied character—Vedic, Epic and Puranic, technical literature like the Silpasastras, and works, in verse and prose of eminent authors like Kalidasa and others. Relevant text in Prakrit and Pali have also been utilised by him in throwing light on different aspects of the theme in question. He has also made sparing use of the iconographic and pictorial remains of ancient and mediaeval India to illustrate his point, and it would have been better if such use had been more exhaustive. Some well-chosen and well reproduced illustrations of relevent specimens would have enhanced the quality of his researches. It should be observed, however, to his credit, that he has seldom failed to refer to the many authoritative works on ancient and mediaeval Indian painting and iconography which contain numerous illustrations. His appraisal of the views of respective scholars about the different problems raised by him has been critical and scholarly. Attention may only be drawn to p. 201 of his Hindi book on Pratima Vijnana, where he rightly pointed out that my comment on the list of different materials for image-making as given in the Samarangana-Sutradhara was based on a faulty reading of the text, and the word lekhya in the passage should really be lepya. He has collected numerous iconographic texts containing the descriptions of different images from a large number of authoritative original works in his Hindi work on Pratimalakshanam, which will be of great use to research scholars in this field of Indology. His two works on Hindu Canons of Painting and Iconography (Introductory and Part I portions only) in English also contain much useful matter, and I wish he will be able to complete the latter work in no distant future. I should like to suggest that he makes full use of the representative icons belonging to the different creeds which have been found in the Uttar Pradesh, and their number, variety and workmanship are certainly great. I need not prolong my report any further. I hereby recommend the award of the D. Litt. Degree of the University of Lucknow to Dr. D. N. Shukla for his meritorious publications. His works in the Rashtrabhasha have enriched the technical branch of the Hindi literature.

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Prof C. D. Chatterji—Although eminent scholars like Sri Gopi Nath Rao, Dr. J. N. Banerjea, Sri N. K. Bhattasali, Dr. B. T. Bhattacharyya, and Sri B. Bhattacharyya, have made valuable contributions to the study of Brahmanical, Buddhist, and Jaina Iconography, a critical and scientific study of the subject as a whole, particularly on the basis of available literary data as contained in different *Agamas*, *Puranas* and *Silpa-Sastras*, was a long-felt desideratum. Again, the study of Hindu Iconography in the light of the canons of paintings was never attempted before by any scholar, whether Indian or foreign. It was, therefore, felt by me as well as by the supplicant that a detailed study of the canons as preserved in Sanskrit literature, should also be made so as to make the dissertation as thorough, comprehensive, and useful as possible. Keeping all these facts in view and bearing in mind the furture needs of Indian Archaeology, I suggested to the supplicant the scheme on the basis of which his thesis has been written.

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I am glad to find that Dr. Shukla has admirably executed his task. His thesis is indeed a valuable contribution to the study of Hindu Iconography, which has considerably advanced our knowledge of that subject in some of its aspects. One may differ from him in respect of a few minor points; but it should be remembered that he has strictly followed the orthodox iconic traditions as preserved in Sanskrit literature, and has substantiated them as far as possible by referring to their best and typical examples, whether executed by sculptors or by painters.

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Dr. Shukla's works on *Pratima-vijnan*, *Pratima-lakshana*, and *Chitra Lakshana* (Hindu Canons of Painting), which comprise his D.Litt. thesis and which form parts of the Series entitled *Bharatiya-Vastusastra*, which has been instituted by him, will be, as I do believe, welcomed by all Indologist, since the treatment of these subjects is unprecedented, scientific, and scholarly. I, therefore, strongly recommend that the Degree of the Doctor of Literature be awarded to him on the basis of these published works on Hindu Iconography, which I sincerely believe, will not only bring credit to him but also to the University associated with his researches.

Acknowledgement

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The credit of the publication of both these Volumes goes to the U.G.C. un er the renowned chairmanship of Sri C. D. Deshmukh—vide its grant of Rs. 10,000.

Bhāratīya Vāstu-Śāstra Series

v1.c9.1

| Vol. | I | Bhāratīya Vāstu-Śāstra—Vāstu-vidyā evam Pura-niveśa. |
| „ | II | Bhavana-niveśa. |
| „ | III | Prāsāda-niveśa. |
| „ | IV | Pratimā-Vijñāna (Pt. I). Pratimā-lakṣaṇa (Pt. II). |
| „ | V | Yantra evaṁ Citra. |
| „ | VI | Translation of the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra (Pt. I & II). |
| „ | VII | Samarāṅgaṇa-Vāstukoṣa. |
| „ | VIII | Vāstu-Śāstrā Vol. I. Hindu Science of Architecture. |
| „ | IX | Vāstuśāstra Vol. II. Hindu Canons of I conography and Painting. |
| „ | X | Vāstu-Śāstra Vol. III—Glossary and Illustrations. |

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*N. B.*—Vols. I, IV (two pts.), VIII & IX are completed. Vol. V. contributed in Hindu canons of Painting or Citralakṣaṇam & Vol. VIII—vide Palace-architecture and Palace-pleasures, the Yantras. Vol. III. has been partially presented—vide ‘Hindū Prāsāda—Caturmukhī Pṛṣṭhabhūmi’

v1.c9.3

CHAPTER I

v1.c9.4

INTRODUCTORY

(i) General Introduction to the Work

v1.c9.s1.1

King Bhoja of Dhārā, one of the greatest rulers of India, ruled from 1018 to 1060 A. D. He was great in the art of Government and war, but still greater in the art of peace. He had earned immortal fame as a great patron of poets and men of letters and a mass of legends has grown about his name. He is reported to be the author of more than three dozen works. These works, published and unpublished, show a wide range of subjects. Poetics, grammar, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, lexicography, architecture and archery, to mention only a few of the subjects, distinct in nature and definite in their respective domains, had an equal fascination for the illustrious king.

v1.c9.s1.2

Sri Viśveś ara Nātha Reu has laboured very hard in his treatise on ‘Rājā Bhoja’ (published by Hindustani Academy) in collecting all the available material on the subject to give an account of the life and works of Bhoja. He has given a list of the following thirty four books ascribed to Rājā Bhoja of Dhārā :

v1.c9.s1.3

| 1. Astronomy | : | 1. Rājamṛgāṅka 2. Rājaamārtaṇḍa 3. Vidyujjāna - vallabha - praśnajñāna 4. Adityapratāpa-siddhānta and 5. Bhujabalanibandha. |
| 2. Poetics | : | 6. Sarasvatī-kaṇṭhābharaṇa and 7. Śṛṅgāra-prakāśa. |
| 3. Yoga-philosophy | : | 8. Rājamārtaṇḍa-Yoga-sūtra-vṛtti (-commentary on Pātañjala-Yoga-Sūtra). |
| 4. Politics and Dharma-Śāstra | : | 9. Pū ārtaṇḍa 10. Cāṇakya-Rājanīti-śāstra 11. Vyavahāra-sammuccaya 12. Cārucaryā 13. Vividha-vidyā-vicāra-caturā and 14. Siddhānta-sāra-paddhati. |
| 5. Architecture (Śilpa) | : | 15. Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra & 16. Yuktikalpataru. |

v1.c9.s1.4

| 6. Poetry & Drama | : | 17. Campū-Rāmāyaṇa (or Bhoja-Campū) 18. Mahākālī-vijaya 19. Vidyā-vinoda 20. Śṛṅgāra-mañjarī (prose) and 21. Kūrmaśataka (in Prākṛta). |
| 7. Grammar | : | 22. Prākṛta-Vyākaraṇa and 23. Sarasvatī-kaṇṭhābharaṇa. |
| 8. Medicine | : | 24. Viśrānta-vidyā-vinoda 25. Āyurveda-sarvasva 26. Rājamārtaṇḍa-sārasaṃgraha. |
| 9. Śaivism | : | 27. Śivatattva-prakāśa 28. Śivatattva-ratna-kalikā and 29. Siddhānta-saṃgraha. |
| 10. Lexicons | : | 30. Nāmamālikā and 31. Sabdānuśāsana. |
| 11. Miscellaneous | : | 32. Śālihotra 33. Subhāṣita-prabandha and 34. Rājamārtaṇḍa (Vedānta). |

v1.c9.s1.5

The question of authorship of these works is worthy of an independent investigation. Nothing can be said authoritatively—what books were his own and what were produced under his patronage by the talented Pandits of his Sabhā. Tradition, however, warrants us to remark that king Bhoja did win the laurels as versatile, talented and authoritative an author, as per the evidence which has come down from the writings of his successor writers who have acclaimed his authorship of the different works on the different subjects.

v1.c9.s1.6

Aufrecht (vide his Catalogus Catalogrum) says that there are references to the authorship of Bhoja in the following post-Bhoja writers and works :—
1. Śūlapāṇi (cf. Prāyaścitta-viveka);
2. Daśabala — the Buddhist writer;
3. Allādanātha and 4. Raghunandana. N. B.—All these writers have acclaimed Bhoja’s authority on Dharmaśāstra.
5. Bhāva-prakāśa and Rugviniścaya of Mādhava attribute to him the authorship of the works on Āyurveda.
6. Keśavārka acclaims him a writer on Astronomy.
7. Kṣīra-swāmī, Sāyaṇa and Mahīpa acclaim him as a grammarian and lexicographer.

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Similarly the following quotations also prove the place of Bhoja among the reputed Sanskrit-authors :—

v1.c9.s1.8

मुनीनां भरतादीनां भोजादीनां चभूभृताम् ।
शास्त्राणि सम्यगालोच्य नाट्यवेदार्थवेदिनाम् ॥

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(cf. Kāṭayavema's commentary on Abhijñāna-Śākuntalam ref. in Government Mss. Lirrary Madras—Sanskrit books—Pt. I. Sec. I (A) p. 405—Kuppuswami).

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भोजराजेन यत्प्रोक्तं स्मार्तमन्यत्र चोदितम्
न्यायसिद्धं च संगृह्य वचनानि पुरातनैः ।।
अनुष्ठानप्रकाशार्थं स्मृतिरत्नं मयोच्यते ।।
(ibid 646)
भोज इवायं निरतो नानाविध-निबन्ध-निर्माणे ।
समयाेच्छिन्नप्राये सोद्योगः कामशास्त्रेऽपि ।।

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(cf. Kandarpa-cūḍāmaṇi of King Vīrabhadra).

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We know that Bhoja's works like Śṛṅgāra-prakāśa, Śarasvatī-kaṇṭhābharaṇa and Raja-mārtaṇḍa and his contribution in these works were quite well known. His contribution to the science of architecture was very little known or practically unknown till the Late Mahāmahopādhyāya T. Gaṇapati Śāstri, edited this work in the G. O. S. in two volumes. Naturally, therefore, the life and works of such a gifted and talented author, such a versatile genius must fascinate any research-scholar. It was my good fortune that my revered teacher Prof. K.A.S. Iyer prescribed for me the subject "THE LIFE AND WORKS OF RĀJA BHOJA" for my Ph. D. dissertation after I had taken my M. A. in Sanskrit from the University of Lucknow in 1940.

v1.c9.s1.13

Though the subject originally chosen was 'Life and Works of Rājā Bhoja' as time passed and I glanced over the material and the extensiveness of the subject-matter, I found the topic worth several theses. Dr. Raghvan of the University of Madras had already written his dissertation on Śṛṅgāra-prakāśa. I was, therefore, allowed to concentrate on one single text of that voluminous literature ascribed to Bhoja, the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra, a treatise on the science of Architecture. I was expected to elucidate its contents and give a factual presentation. I have spent several years on this *work (writing its summary, translation, study, glossary and still grappling with the illustrations of the architectural and sculptural objects) and I am now happy to present a part of the results of my study in the following pages.

v1.c9.s1.14

The Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra is a remarkable legacy of Bhoja whose rule was noted for splendour and grandeur together with liberality and catholicity. It is also a brilliant testimony to his grand and eloquent style not only in the field of the literature he produced but in every walk of life, the life of a benevolent king—his court, his administration, his patronage of art and literature, his ideal of social conduct and religious dedication.

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*It is on the nucleus of this study of Bhoja's Samarāṅgana-Sūtradhāra thet. I have instituted an extensive research under the general caption 'Bhāratīya Vāstuśāstra or Vāstuśāstra and have attempted a comprehensive survey of the whole branch of this technical lore—vide the series of my publications already refered to, in the Introduction. टि०--प्राचीनपुर-निवेशे राजहर्म्यादीनां सभान्यायालयवाजिशालागजशाल शालादीनां निवेशस्तु सर्वप्रधान आसीत् परमेतेषां समेषां निवेशनमत्रलक्षणे न दीयते लक्षणे तेषां प्रसङ्गत्वादिति ।

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We are familiar with the treatment of this subject of architecture, the Śilpa-śāstra or Vāstu-śāstra in the pre-Samarāṅgaṇa-works both architectural-proper like Mayamata, Mānasāra, etc. and non-architectural class of works like Bṛhatsaṃhitā, Matsya-purāṇa, Agni-purāṇa and so many other Purāṇas as well and Āgamas like Kāmika, Suprabheda and a host of others together with so many other miscellaneous treatises like Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya, Śukra-nītisāra and a good number of religious treatises as well. Their scope of treatment is limited to what may be termed as architectural and sculptural topics. Take for instance the Mānasāra and it will be noticed that of the seventy chapters of the book the first eight are introductory, the next forty-two deal with architectural matters, and the last twenty are devoted to sculpture (see for details H. A. I. A. pp. 157-8)

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A brief notice of the contents of the chapters of the S. S. (vide the tabulations of the re-arranged chapters subject-wise in a chapter ahead) however, will give us an impression that it does not only treat the architectural subjects like Town-Planning, House-architecture, Temple-architecture, and sculptural subjects like Pratimā-lakṣaṇas iconography iconometry and iconoplastic art together with the Mudrās, the different hand poses, the poses of the body as well as the postures of legs, but it also deals with the canons of Painting and devotes a big chapter to the art of mechanical construction, the Yantras. Yantras and Citras are the two special features which it has introduced in the body of Śilpa-śāstra consistent with its very broad scope of architecture (cf. the chapter ahead).

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