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—Music, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature—from 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
46 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 77 temple has been given special importance. It is said that
one who builds Sarvatobhadra temple becomes 'Cakravartin'.
The sight of it destroyes all evils and bestows bliss.
In the Sarvatobhadra temple Jagati is four sided and on it
twenty four Garbhagrhas are placed. Naturally, the mumber
of temples are 24. At the back of these garbhagrhas and
higher than Jagati should be made an enclosure. The whole
construction is of the shape of the Mekhala and in its four
directions a flight of steps should be placed. On the top
of the Mekhala and at each of the two sides of the flight of
steps three temples should be placed. The first one is
Garbhamandira without the Mekhali. In the middle is Samanya
and the third one is without the Mandapa. On its side two
temples of the Himavat variety without the Mekhala should be
made. At the base of these steps two temples are to be
placed on two sides. These pairs of temples having no
pavilion, are called Devakula Danstras of the Samanya variety.
Similarly at the corner on the top of the Jagati a devaiula
should be placed. Here the central temple with the pavilion
should be erected. The number of pavilions is four. They
have Sikharas. In the corners of the central temple and at
the junctions of the pavilions pairs of temples should be
placed. Here each pavilion should be beautiful with three
doors and in the fourth door a Garbhagrha should be placed.
The gateways of the pavilions should be decorated with pillars.
The number of the Sikharas in this temple is nine. of these
eight are equal in height and the ninth is higher. The central
