Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c55.48

v1.c55.48

By the word ‘Alinda’ is understood the lattice-covered path beyond the wall of a hall and facing (or in front of) the courtyard. This architectural planning of the houses like Sarvatobhadra, Nandyāvarta, Vardhamāna, Svastika and Rucaka, the śālā houses, as described in the ancient sources like Kāmikāgama, Agnpurāṇa (vide Enc. H. Arch. p. 47-8) corroborate this essential constituent of Alinda. The S. S. too follows this ancient tradition in its treatment of the Palace architecture (Ch 30). Again the chief characteristic of the Hall architecture—the abundant employment of Pillars is fully assimilated here (vide Tabulation in the appendix). The super-structure of storeys with manifold mouldings and so many other decorative elements, the chief characteristic of temple architecture, is fully displayed here in the sublime architecture of the palace. It is a controversial point whether temples owe their super-structure to the lofty palaces or vice-versa. Scholars like Bhattacharya (vide C. I. A.) maintain the former position. In my opinion, however, the case is otherwise. I have throughout maintained that it is the religious architecture that originated and developed first on the sacred soil of India. Hence it is beyond comprehension to admit that the Temple architecture instead of becoming the model, should be a copy. In very ancient times, the residential quarters of a king were for all practical purposes, the citadel. The court, the treasury, the soldiers’ barracks, the council house, and the ministers’ houses were grouped round the royal castle and formed a part and parcel of it. Later on, though many a new establishment was added to it, it did not undergo any substantial modification (vide S. S. Ch. 15). Hence my contention is : Later development of palace architecture resembling a lofty super-structure with storeys, pinnacles and other ornamental mouldings and decorative elements of a Prāsāda were copied from it.