Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c52.19

v1.c52.19

Again these great gateways are to be provided with Pratolī, the gateway in the city wall. The word Pratolī in the S.S. has an imposing architecture, like that of the Gopura. Amarakoṣa (II.II-3) takes it as a synonym of Rathyā, a street and Dr. Acharya in his Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture (page 321) writes under Pratolī, "A gate-way sometimes provided with a flight of steps, a small turret, the main road of a town". According to the S.S., it is a storeyed building, of course adjoining the gate-way and having a super-structure of two storeys in which there are compartments (śālās) and porticos (Mūṣīs) and so many other wooden components and the mouldings thereof, to present an edifice of imposing beauty and lustre. It is laid secure with the broad and high flanks of doors—Kapāṭa, (cf. Phalakas) with door bolts called Parigha. The Hindi, Rajasthani and Gujarati word ‘Pauri’ is derived from Pratolī.