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
44 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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nim kinds. Vair膩ja, Puspaka, Kail膩sa, Manika and Trivistapa
are the five Vimanas of the gods and are considered as five
primary shapes. The first class is characterised by a square
(caturasra) shape, the second resembling the first in structure
which is rectangular (Ayatasra), while the third and the fifth
classes are respectively built circular (Vrtta) and octagonal
(Ast膩sra), the fourth class being constructed in a way so as to
resemble the segments of a circle, i... elliptical (Vrttayata).
Each of the above classes of temples is divided into nine
sub-divisions thus giving rise to forty-five different
structures of temple.
The nine forms of Vair膩ja are Meru, Mandara, Vimana,
Bhadra, Sarvatobhadra, Caruka, (or 'Rucaka') Nandika, Nandi,
Vardhamana, and Srivatsa. The nine forms of Puspaka are
Valabhi, Grhar膩ja, Salarha, Visala, Sama, Brahua-mandira,
Bhavana, Prabhava, Sivik膩vesma. The nine divisions of Kailasa
are Valaya, Dundubhi, Padma, Mahapadna, Vardhinya, Usnisa,
Sankha, Kalasa, and Khavrksa.Manika includes Gaja, Vrsabha,
Haksa, Garutmat, Rksanayaka, Bhusana, Bhudhara, Srijaya and
Prthvidhara, Trivistapa includes Vajra, Cakra, Svastika,
Vajra-Svastika, Citra, Svastika-Khadga, Gad膩, Srikantha and
Vijaya.
Dr. Stella Kramrisch opines that these names are those
of Nagara and Lata Prasadas built in a particular region, Lata
or Gujar膩ta. 72
The Garuda-Purana has the same five shapes, five
