History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c31.67

v1.c31.67

The Kṣīrārṇava, a Śilpa-text from Gujarat of the 15th century provides seven variations between 1:1 to 1:2 1/2 for the relative width of sanctum to maṇḍapa. The Aparājita enjoins 27 types of maṇḍapas with pillars ranging between 12 to 64 through successive addition of two pillars, while another classification has 16 types of maṇḍapas by varying arrangement of bays. The same text also lays down 12 forms of a porch variety called trika (porch sandwiched between sanctum and maṇḍapa) and at least 5 types of festive or dance halls anciently known as sabhamaṇḍapa or raṅgamaṇḍapa. As regards the relative width of the mukhamaṇḍapa (porch) and the maṇḍapa, the earlier ratio was 1:2 and the later one after the 11th century was generally 1:3.