Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c55.45

v1.c55.45

Lumās or Lūpās are indissolubly connected with Vitāna (Canopy) owing to their forming an essential component. It is to the Lumās that the Vitānas owe their charm and grace. The very name Vitāna is suggestive of the fact that the vault of the Vitāna assumes forms of flowers of various kinds. According to observation of P. A. Mankad (vide introduction to Aparājitapṛcchā—pp. CXXXV) Domes and vaults (the characteristics of the Moghul Architecture in the later medieval period) did exist in India in multifarious forms long before the advent of the Mohamedan rulers. "How far the Indian constructive and decorative characteristics were contributory to the development of the Saracenic domes etc., of the Moghul period and whether the Indian influence came to be exhorted in the formation of the substratum and super-structure of these forms will remain a moot question till whole literature on the Indian type of Vitāna is available".