Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 3 - Architecture in the Puranas
16 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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there was an allsided excellence in every field the emperors
concentrated their attention on seeing to it that these temples
were built on a vast scale and at the same time were aestheticall
beautiful. They were the specimens of the acme of architectural
and sculptural beauty.
In early literature on Vastusastra and in the Puranic
Chapters on architecture also, preference is given to temple
building. Twenty and forty-five types of temples are described
in the Puranas. Residential architecture and town-plaming
etc. were given less importance.
SELECTION OF SITE
In the context of the construction of temples, various
other things which are related to the actual construction, such
as the selection of site, the testing of soil, the site-plan,
the relation of Vastupurusa to the site plan, some ceremonials
and beliefs, the units of measurement and the building material
are enumerated in detail in the chapters of the Puranas
dealing with architecture.
For the stability of the site, some divinity is invoked
and those unwanted entities that were active in the site are
asked to leave with some 'Mantra'.9 After the spirits and
demons are bid to leave with offerings the site would have to
be levelled and the plan would be laid out on the ground.
Before the planning, the fitness of the soil has to be
ascertained.
