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
38 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 153 - of the platform at the top of the ground elevation and twice taat measure above that. The Purana gives fourfold division of the Sikhara like the Agni Purana. The Sikhara should be divided into four equal parts over the third part, from the bottom of which the Vedi or the top of the platform should be constructed and on the top of the fourth part, the ornamental figure should be placed which is generally made to edge the 60 entire height of the temple from the bottom.
In the alternative the site should be divided into
sixteen equal parts over the four central parts on which the
adytum of the temple should be raised. The walls of the
edifice should be raised upon twelve such rectangular divisions
or chambers and the height of the walls should be made
commensurate with the length of four such parts as are
compatible with the laws of proportion. The height of the
terrace or the pinnacle should be made to measure twice the
height of the wall and the open verandah or the platform all
round the temple should be made of a quarter part of the height
of the terrace in breadth. These are the essentials of the
62 general plan.
Another plan is in proportion to the lengths of the
images of the deities. The pedastal should be made commensurate
with the length of the latter and the adytum should be made
twice that length. The walls should be of equal length with
the latter, while the plinth should be made half as much broad
as the adytum. The pinnacle should have twice the height of
