Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c56.63

v1.c56.63

While expounding the connotation of the Temple in the last chapter, I have already said that the evolution of the Temple, the Prāsāda is a sum total of all the traits known as different institutions of worship and the different architectural styles. The contribution towards the evolution of the temple as made by the aboriginals in the dolmen serving as a proto-type for the roofed and pillared temples has already been explained. The other non-Aryan element is the Tabernacle. Even to this day we have a proto-type of the hoary institution in our Satyanārāyaṇa-kathā, in which without any image, we simply invoke the divine presence and in our glorification and veneration thereof, we decorate it with leaves, especially with those of Kadalī, Āmra, Aśoka, etc. and give shape of a pavillion. These decorations and ornamentation have served as the motif for the later decorations and ornamentations in the Temple (S. S. the 34th chap). The other ancient institution (Aryan one) which has contributed in its own way, is the institution of Sad, has already been hinted above. Both these have lent the architectural evolution to the internal and external parts of the temple. These are the proto-types of the temples having curvilinear Sikhara and were to rise above the Garbhagṛha on their superstructure. Four bamboos etc. or branches fixed at the corners of a square, their stems bended and tied horizontally by wriths or strings at regular interval is its pristine shape.