Essay name: Architectural data in the Puranas
Author:
Sharda Devi
Affiliation: Himachal Pradesh University / Department of History
This essay studies ancient Indian architectural science as found in technical treatises and the Puranas, with special reference to the Matsya, Garuda, Agni and Bhavishya Puranas. These texts detail ancient architectural practices, covering temple and domestic designs, dimensional specifications, and construction rules.
Chapter 5 - Palace architecture
9 (of 20)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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180
figures and follow other dimensions. Similarly the length of the house of a
Kṣatriya ought to be 36 hands and 10 angulas and that of a Vaisya ought
to be 35 hands and 13 angulas. The measurement of a Śūdra's house
ought to be as previously mentioned and fifteen angulas more.
The MP says that the king should have his own residence between
the capital and the house of the commander-in-chief and at the same
place should be built the store-room. The houses of the Brāhmaṇas
should be round the mansion of the commander-in-chief. Besides these,
the sleeping rooms of other lower men and those residing in the forest are
to be fifty hands long. Similarly the sleeping-rooms of the king and the
commander-in-chief are to be seventy hands long. Within 35 hands from
that, the outer verandah is to be laid.4
41 The MP further points out that if the building be divided into three
parts where there is a road-way in the first (front) part and whose back
side is elevated and beautiful, it is named soṣnīṣa, where there is a road-
way on one side, that is named sāvastambha and where there are road-
ways all round the building that is named susthita. All these buildings are
auspicious to the Brāhamaṇas and three other classes.
PALACE: RESIDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION
The MP says that the treasure should be kept in the southern portion of
the palace, to the further south of which should be the place for the
