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
9 (of 62)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Erection of Stambhas and Stupas is common to all ages
and styles of Indian Architecture. Monolithic pillars with
large animal capitals and the monolithic railing preserved at
Saranatha are important monuments of the Art in Asoka's time.
The pillars or stambhas consist of a long tapering shaft
ranging from about 40' to 50' in length and the capital is
generally in the form of an animal, fixed on the top of the
shaft, both carved out of single blocks of stone. These
pillars represent the highest skill of the Mauryan artists
shown by their noble stature, pleasing proportions, high
finish, glass-like polish, and above all, by the magnificence
of the capitals executed with skilled mastery acquired through
intensive training.
The lion-capital of Asoka displays a technical
perfection and a complete mastery of the secrets of modelling
and carving in the round.
The next development in Indian architecture was the
stupa architecture. The stupa is a hemispherical mound set
on the foundation of stone blocks. It consisted of a solid
hemispherical dome called 'anda'. It stood on a circular or
square base called 'medhi' and on its flattened top was a kind
of platform enclosed by a railing known as 'harmika'. The
later st奴pas are enclosed on all sides and this enclosure was
called 'Vedika'. In the case of the Bharhut and other stupas
the Vedika consisted of a series of perpendicular pillars.
The top of the pillars was bound together by a series of coping
