Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c4.1

v1.c4.1

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.