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[Full title: 痴腻蝉迟耻艣腻蝉迟谤补 in the post-Vedic literature (2) Mah膩k膩vyas (1) 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺]  

The Sanskrit literature of the post vedic period record ample of architectural evidences. In this regard texts like the 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺, the 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补, the 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补, and the 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 etc. are very prominent.

The 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 and the 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补 are popular as the 鈥榥ational epic of India鈥�. The 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 is also acknowledged as the secret text of Hinduism. More or less all seven 碍腻峁囜笉补蝉 offer architectural references that influenced in the later 惫腻蝉迟耻 tradition. 

In this perspective T. Bhattacharya states that:

鈥淲e see that the 搁腻尘腻测补苍补 holds, before us a picture which shows that Indian architecture had already attained a highly developed stage.While the many storeyed buildings and fortification prove the constructive genius of the people.......Even later interpolation in 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 clearly indicates the continuity of the old architectural tradition of India.鈥�(qtd. in. The Cannons of Indian Art, p.-42).

The planning of 础测辞诲丑腻 苍补驳补谤墨 (础测辞诲丑腻k膩峁囜笉a) indicates the rich knowledge of 惫腻蝉迟耻vidy膩 in the society. 碍颈峁�k颈苍诲丑测腻办腻峁囜笉补 of the

搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 referrs to Maya and his daughter 贬别尘腻. It is stated that鈥�

mayo n膩ma mah膩tejo m膩y膩v墨 v膩narar峁�abha ||
teneda峁� nirmita峁� 蝉补谤惫补峁� m膩yay膩 k膩帽canam 惫补苍补峁� |

(搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺, 4.51.10b-11a)

[鈥淢aya is the name of the magician of great power, by whom this entire golden grove has been constructed.鈥漖^[1]

It is also mentioned that the creator of this magical and heavenly place was once the chief architect for the Giants. After practicing intense austerities for a thousand years in a vast forest, he received a boon from the Grandsire of the World. This boon granted him complete mastery of his craft and full control over the materials he needed. Having accomplished all his goals, he lived happily in the mighty forest for a time. Eventually, he fell deeply in love with the nymph 贬别尘腻.

The sacrificial rituals related to the building/ palace construction that are found to be prescribed in the 骋峁沨测补蝉奴迟谤补蝉, are found to be thoroughly followed and mentioned in the narrative of the 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺. It is also to be noted that these rituals are also took place in the later 惫腻蝉迟耻艣膩stra like Mayamata, 惭腻苍补蝉腻谤补 etc. For instance, R膩machandra conducted the 惫腻蝉迟耻pa艣amana ceremony (Peaceful environment for home) and performed the 惫补颈艣惫补诲别惫补产补濒颈 (for animal sacrifice) when he built a small temporary cottage on 颁颈迟谤补办奴迟补 mountain.

In the 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺, the palaces in 础测辞诲丑测腻, 厂耻驳谤墨惫补鈥檚 capital in 碍颈峁�k颈苍诲丑测腻, and R膩vana鈥檚 辫谤腻蝉腻诲补 in 尝补峁卥腻 were constructed with distinctive architectural features. Structures like the 肠补迟耻岣ヅ浤乴补 bhavana (four-sided houses), Padma (lotus-shaped buildings), Svastika, 痴补谤诲丑补尘腻苍补 houses, and 痴颈尘腻苍补 (palaces), are depicted in the epic. The gates of Ramchandra鈥檚 palace have been decorated with golden statues.

In 尝补峁卥腻, R膩vana's palace is described as featuring numerous statues of birds, serpents, horses, and the goddess 尝补办峁�m墨 with two elephants known as Gaja-尝补办峁�m墨.^[2]  

It is stated that鈥�

k峁泃膩艣ca vaiduryamay膩 viha峁単膩 r奴pyaprav膩lai艣ca tath膩 viha峁単膩岣� |
citr膩艣ca n膩n膩vasubhirbhuja峁単膩 j膩ty膩nur奴p膩sturag膩岣� 艣ubh膩峁単膩岣� ||

(搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 5.7. 12)

摆鈥淭丑别 monkey gazed on the vast aerial chariot named 笔耻峁�p补办补, which gleaming like pearl, planed above the highest buildings and contained birds made of emerald, silver and coral and serpents marvellously fashioned of various metals and life-sized horses and birds with charming beaks and wonderful wings which contracted and expanded, their plumage like that of Kama himself, posed on gold and coral flowers.鈥漖^[3]

The epic also illustrates:

niyujyam膩n膩stu gaj膩岣� suhast膩岣� sakesar膩艣cotpalapatrahast膩岣� |
vabhuva dev墨 ca k峁泃膩 suhast膩 lak峁Ｄ玸tath膩 padmini padmahast膩 ||

(搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 5.7. 14)

摆鈥淭丑别re were elephants with tapering trunks, bearing lotus leaves, engaged in showering water on the Goddess 尝补办峁�m墨, who, seated in a pool, held lotuses in her fair hands.鈥漖^[4]

厂耻苍诲补谤补办腻峁囜笉补 of the 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 records other valuable information on the 惫腻蝉迟耻vidy膩s. It is found there that 搁腻惫补峁嘺鈥檚 palace was decorated by 颁颈迟谤补艣腻濒腻, 艢补测补苍补驳峁沨补, 痴颈濒腻蝉补产丑补惫补苍补, 叠丑耻驳补谤惫补驳峁沨补 etc.

鈥�lat膩g峁沨膩峁噄 citr膩峁噄 citra艣膩l膩g峁沨膩峁噄 ca ||
kr墨岣嵞乬峁沨膩峁噄 c膩ny膩ni d膩ruparvatak膩ni ca |
k膩masya g峁沨aka峁� 谤补尘测补峁� div膩g峁沨akameva ca || 鈥�

(搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺 5.6.36b-37)

[鈥淗e saw (贬耻尘耻尘腻苍补) also many litters of different shapes, and bowers, picture galleries, gymnasiums, mountains constructed of wood, pavilions and entertainment halls.鈥漖^[5]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Hari Prasad Shastri, The Ramayana of Valmiki: A complete Modern English Translation, vol.1, p. 296.

[2]:

See below, p.154

[3]:

H.P. Shastri, Ramayana, vol.2, p. 352

[4]:

Hari Prasad Shastri, The Ramayana of Valmiki: A complete Modern English Translation, vol.1, p. 352

[5]:

Hari Prasad Shastri, The Ramayana of Valmiki: A complete Modern English Translation, vol.1, p. 351