Essay name: Architectural data in the Puranas
Author:
Sharda Devi
Affiliation: Himachal Pradesh University / Department of History
This essay studies ancient Indian architectural science as found in technical treatises and the Puranas, with special reference to the Matsya, Garuda, Agni and Bhavishya Puranas. These texts detail ancient architectural practices, covering temple and domestic designs, dimensional specifications, and construction rules.
Chapter 3 - Temples
32 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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124
(Visnu) should be constructed following the same rules which are applied
in erecting the mansions of a king. It should be built consisting of one, two,
three or four 艣膩l膩s (enclosures or courts). The mandapa comprising four
艣膩l膩s is considered the best of all. After building seven storeys one by one
the saptabhauma hall should be consecrated with all the rituals which are
consequent on the installation of a divine icon.
96 CONSECRATION OF THE DIVINITIES
The MP says that to the south of the mandapa should be planted trees
with fruits, to the east milky trees, to the west a pond full of lotuses and to
the north should be palm trees and flowers. The pariv膩r膩layas should be
erected surrounding the man岣峚pa and a temple. The MP places them in
the following order:
South - place for penance (tapovana).
North - M膩trk膩鈥攖emple.
South-east - (膧gneya) 鈥� kitchen.
-
South-west - (Nair峁泃ya) 鈥� Gane艣a-temple.
-
West - 艢ri or Lak峁i-temple and a place for offerings to god Candra and
etc.
North-west (V膩yavya) - platform for grahas i.e. (navagrahas).
狈辞谤迟丑-测补箩帽补艣腻濒腻.
North-east (I艣膩na) - v膩pi (step-well) and 艢e峁艣膩y墨 Vi峁ａ箛u therein.
