Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c50.s4.30

v1.c50.s4.30

**Nagara.** Pura and Nagara may be taken synonymous. Nagara is surely a fortified town as its etymology signifies—immovable, implying permanence and strength with reference to stone walls etc. The Vedic puras were mere forts, while pura as in Tripura and Mahāpura was much bigger (Tait. Sam. VI 2, 3, 4, : Kāth. Sam. XXIV, 10; Sat. Bra. VI, 3, 3, 35; Ait. Bra., II, 11; Mait Sam. III. 8, 1). Thus pura might have been the prototype of pura, the developed city, and Nagara the full-fledged capital city. The dimensions and other layouts in regard to gates, towers, buildings, markets, temples, military defence etc. etc. may be purviewed in the Vāstulakṣaṇa.