Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c56.82

v1.c56.82

Both in the pyramidal super-structure and the curvilinear one, the development of the Prāsāda-vāstu is intimately concerned with the philosophical background or transcendental aspect forming an architectural content in consonance thereof. Dr. Kramrisch is very apt in her remarks when she says: "Works of architecture serve a purpose; the Hindu Temple as much as a Gothic cathedral exceed their function of being a house or seat of divinity. While their orientation and expansion are in the four regions of space, their main direction, in the vertical, is towards God, the supreme principle, which is beyond form and above His seat or house of manifestation. From all these regions of space, from its walls in the four directions and their corners in the intermediate directions, the Prāsāda, rises bodily towards its High point, tier on tier, until diminished in its bulk, it forms the High Altar (vedī) on which is placed the crowning High Temple or the Āmalaka with its finial that ends in a point." (H. T. 179).