Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c76.101

v2.c76.101

Chapter 66 of the Nāradaśilpa is called चित्रशाला लक्षणकथन and it describes the nature of Citra Śāla. The work is written in a very difficult, affected archaic prose style and consequently very few sentences are clear enough to be quoted here. Nārada quotes an earlier authority Uśīnara, according to whom the Citra Śālā must be in the centre of the city, in a place like the meeting of four streets or in the middle of the Rāja Vīthī, ‘king’s highway’. The building may be of the shape of a Mardala, (a kind of drum) or Māṇḍalika (circular) or mace-like (dāṇḍikākṛtika). It has many doors, main and smaller entrances (dvāropadvāraka). It may have one or many faces. The courts within must be each in two parts (dvidvibhāgāṅgaṇa). This perhaps means that one half on the side of the wall is to be enclosed for pictures and the other half for the floating spectators. There are inner halls, pials to rest on and stairs leading to the upper storey. The pillars may be 32, or 16 in number. One hall for picrures runs across and there is one in the centre. The one in the centre seems to be in a very raised place with steps leading to it. In the front or on the eastern side there is a ‘special hall’ (Vaiśeṣika Śālā). The whole building shall have windows, and beautiful canopies and shall be, in all other ways variously decorated. Again Nārada says that the Citra Śāla must have many pials and many seats on all sides with Upā-Śālas or minor halls resembling out-houses. The building is like a Maṇḍapa, with dome and kalaśa at the top. It is not that the same hall must have all these details but one may adopt some and another some others. Certain Citra Śālās, for instance, have stairs on all sides and have the halls for picture only in the upstairs. The Citra Śālā has a great mirror within and glass chandeliers. Sometimes the front of the building is beautified by constructing it like a small Gopura. In such halls pictures done in various brilliant colours, of Devas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, men in sport, persons possessing greatness and of importance are exhibited.