Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c20: Chapter XXVIII.
Vāstu-śāstra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c20
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Chapter XXVIII.
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Sabhā (The Assembly Hall).
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Sabhā here means a public hall or a council-chamber. The special features of the Sabhā in Vedic times were their pillars and fire-altars. This characteristic of pillars is retained in the planning of Sabhā in the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra. Nandā, Bhadrā, Jayā, Pūrṇā, Bhāvitā, Dakṣā, Pravarā and Vidurā—these are the eight varieties of the Sabhā, special features of the first five varieties is the excessive application of the pillars as many as thirty-six in each of them, together with terraces, all round. The sixth, seventh and eighth varieties however, it seems that apart from the architectural details, may have corridors also.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
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Gajaśālā—(Stables for Elephants).
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1. Subhadrā
2. Nandinī
3. Subhogadā
4. Bhadrikā
5. Varṣaṇī
6. Pramārikā Theses are the six varieties of the Śālā of the Elephants. The special architectural characteristics of the first five Gajaśālās is an application of the Prāgrīvas, the windows, Alindas, the corridors and the Nirvyūhas the towers on than in different modes and directions thereof, while the last viz. Pramārikā is devoid of any such application and is deemed unfit for use, being inauspicious. Therefore, the text recommends the use of only first five varieties.