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
49 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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MANDAPAS In the Matsya Purana (Chap. 269) twenty seven kinds of Mandapas (halls, porches) are described. Mandapa is a detached building, a pavilion, an open hall, an arbour, or a corridor. 81 82 The Mandapa should be built to the north or east of
the temple. It should have four faces (facades) and be
furnished with four arched gateways (lit. arches).
The
Mandapas are said to be of three kinds; viz. Uttana, Madhyama
Their names are -- (1) Puspaka (2) Puspabhadra,
and Kanisth蓻.
(3) Suvrata (4) Arta-nandana (5) Kausalya (6) Buddhi-
Sankirna (7) Gajabhadra (8) Jayavana (9) Srivatsa (10) Vijaya
(11) V盲stu kirti (12) Brutajaya (13) Yajna-bhadra (14) Vis膩la
(15) Sualista (16) Satrumardana (17) Bhiga-panca (18) Nandana
(19) Manava (20) Mana-bhadraka (21) Sugr墨va (22) Harita
(23) Karnik墨ra (24) Setardhika (25) Sinha (26) Syama
(27) Subhadra.
Then their characteristics are given. They are
divided according to the number of their columns. The largest
one (Puspaka) is furnished with 64 pillars, the next 62, one
following 60 and so on.
The plan or mandapas is given next. They should be
made triangular, circular, octagonal, or with sixteen sides or
they are square.
83 The Garuda Purana (Ch.47 and 48) referred to the
84 Mandapas. The Garuda Purana states that a Mandapa should be
erected in front of a temple of ten or twelve cubits supported
