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
39 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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131
examination indicates that the temples displayed fixed architectural
techniques and sculptural composition. These were generally constructed
on square based plan. The square plan, is considered as the essential
and fundamental form of Indian architecture, and 'a mark of order. of
finality to the expanding life'.
NOTES AND REFERENCE
1.
Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, ed. James Hastings, vol. XII.
New York, 1971, pp. 236-37; K.R. Srinivasan, Temples of South
India, 2nd edn., New Delhi, 1979, p. 1.
2.
Stella Kramrisch, The Hindu Temple, vol. I, Delhi, 1976, p. 118.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Appr., 69.29; M膩nas膩ra, IV, 23; XLI, 1-51; P.K. Acharya, A
Dictionary of Hindu Architecture, Oxford, 1927, rpt., New Delhi,
1993, pp. 30, 551-552; Stella Kramrisch, op. cit., p. 134.
Klaus Fisher, 'Bengal Brick Temples During the Indo Islamic
Period', in Pramod Chandra, ed., Studies in Indian Temple
Architecture, New Delhi, 1975, p. 195.
Ks墨r膩r峁嘺va, 15.49.
AP, 61.19-27. Similarly it says that the whole pr膩s膩da is to be
understood as puru峁 and Lord Hari himself is visibly established in
the pr膩s膩da, see also AP, 102.14 and 102.22-23.
Silparatna, XVI, 121-123.
