The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice c22.4

c22.4

According to the Çāstra,¹ the play-house as made ready for performance may be of three types, the first for the gods, 108 hands (18 inches) long; the second rectangular, 64 hands long and 32 broad; the third triangular, 32 hands long, the second being praised on acoustic grounds. The house falls into two parts, the places for the audience and the stage. The auditorium is marked off by pillars, in front a white pillar for the seats for the Brahmins, then a red pillar for the Kṣatriyas, in the north-west a yellow pillar marks the seats for the Vaiçyas, while the Çūdras have a blue-black pillar in the north-east. The seats are of wood and bricks, and arranged in rows. In front beside the stage is a veranda with four pillars, apparently also for the use of spectators. In front of the spectators is the stage (*raṅga*), adorned with pictures and reliefs; it is eight hands square in the second form of play-house; its end is the head of the stage (*raṅgaçīrṣa*), decorated by figures, and there offerings are made.²