Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c4.2

v1.c4.2

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.