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Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s13.t10: Architecture

Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s13.t10

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Architecture

c12.s13.t10.1

The development of architecture is seen in Kauṭilya's elaborate description of the fort and the palace and their various parts including mechanical manipulations (yantras). Secret passages within walls (gūḍha-bhitti-sañcāra) and underground ways (suraṅgas) were devised (I. 20). In the same place fire-proofing is also mentioned. Śulbaśāstra is referred to expressly (II. 12 and 25). Special buildings with suitable features are described for elephants and horses ; pleasure-halls (vihāraśālās II. 1), drinking halls with rooms, seats, garden etc. (pānāgāra II. 26, III. 8), gambling halls (dyūtāvāsa II. 36) and hospitals (II. 6) are other special types of buildings mentioned by Kauṭilya. The architectural magnificence of the Mauryan capital is borne out by the testimony of the Greek writers and by excavations. It has already been pointed out that the Arthaśāstra contains numerous references to temples and images (I. 6. 18, II. 1. 4. II. 6, 33, 36, III. 9, 10, 16, IV. 10, V. 2

c12.s13.t10.2

XIII. 1, 3.). Idols for worship were highly popular and Deva-dānas and Deva-dravyas were guarded by village elders (I. 18, II. 1), a superintendent looking after all temples (II. 6), and from a reference in Patañjali we know that the Mauryas probably augmented their revenues by a share in the fees forthcoming in the popular worship of images.

Cites (1)