Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c13.s8.23

c13.s8.23

There were lofty mansions (pāsāya arādimsaya) for rich and well-to-do people. Seven storeyed¹²⁹ mansions touching the sky and embellished with flags, banners, umbrellas and garlands are referred to.¹³⁰ Then we have reference to a post (khandha), pillar (thambha) raised platform (mañca), scaffold (mālā) and flat roof (hammiyatala).¹³¹ The city of Rāyagiha was known for buildings made of stone and bricks (kāṇilla).¹³² The mirror-house (āyamsagīha) of Bharata was well-known.¹³³ Sīyahara or the cool-house was a marvellous house of a Cakravartin which remained unaffected by rains, cold and heat¹³⁴ Then we had underground construction (bhūmihara),¹³⁵ back door (avadāra),¹³⁶ big tunnels (suranga)¹³⁷ and lac-houses (jauhara)¹³⁸