Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.143

v2.c74.s2.143

With these general remarks on the wood as a material for iconoplastic art, let us dwell a little more at the more important items of its selection from the trees as enumerated in the Śilpa-texts. The S. S. has an elaborate code of selection. You have first to ascertain the age of the tree. The young ones and old ones are to be avoided. Same is the case with the defective trees. The trees inhabited by insects, etc. are also to be avoided. Those grown on the places like cemetry, the high-ways, the hermitages etc., should not be disturbed. The following lines from the S. S. are a beautiful and by far the most scientific code of selection of the trees :