Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c56.3

v1.c56.3

The main function of the science of architecture is to provide norms for the buildings. The two broad classes of buildings, residential and religious—Manavāvāsa and Devāvāsa according to the genius of this work have already been indicated. The religious buildings in India centre round a shrine or a temple or a chapel, or a monastery or a pavilion or a shed or the like—the chief among which is the Hindu Temple—the place of worship. Many broad classifications of architecture have been advanced by scholars, but in India the devotional architecture had been the most favourite architectural acitivity where the Indian genius of the architectural skill and craftsmanship culminated into the profoundest of expression both from the point of view of art and culture as well. The pre-eminence given to devotional architecture in India is characteristic of Indian culture. After all, according to Lethaby, (cf. Architecture page 7 H.U.L.): “Architetture is the martix of civilization”. The finest trait of human civilisation has been the manifestation of the artistic evolution in its different climes and times. Sri P. Brown is very apt in his remarks—“In each of the major historical developments of architecture, there is one basic principle underlying in its conception, and one which is supremely distinctive. With the Greeks this was refined perfection; Roman buildings are remarkable for their scientific construction; French Gothic reveals a condition of passionate energy, while Italians Renaissance reflects the scholarship of its time. In the same way the outstanding quality of the architecture of India is its spiritual content. It is evident that the fundamental purpose of the building art was to represent in concrete form the prevailing religious consciousness of the people. It is mind, materalised in terms of rock, bricks or stone”—(Indian Architecture p. 1).