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 5 - Palace architecture
16 (of 20)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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187
attributed to c. late eleventh century AD, at Bhandreshwar, Kachh district
(Gujarat).
It is far from clear whether the stipulation for kings palace given in
the Pur膩峁嘺s were carried out or not. Actual examination of surviving early
medieval Indian palace remnants need to be done in situ to know whether
puranic injunctions were followed or not. The writers of these texts tried to
formulate some broad guidelines for the location, types and how people of
different social strata be located in the palace complex.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
1.
Prabhakar V. Begde, Forts and Palaces of India, New Delhi, 1982,
2.
3.
4.
p. 3.
E.B. Havell, Indian Architecture through the Ages, New Delhi, 1978,
p. 98.
Prabhakar V. Begde, op. cit., p. 49.
Elsewhere it means a monastery or temple. Early references to
pr膩s膩da as temple include Sanksr., Su., 13, 16, 17, 18; Pata帽jali 2,
2, 34; Panchatantra, BK. 1, Story 1, 27. ff; for later pr膩s膩da,
temples, see MP, chaps. 267, 268.
5.
Ibid., V. 15; VI. 39.
6.
Mbh., LXXII, 244.
7.
J膩taka, VI, 412; J. VI, 456; IV, 182; VI, 428, 455.
