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
18 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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The width of the either doorjambs should be equal to one-fourth of
udumbara accordingly
the height of the doorframe with the
commensurated and the thickness of the jamb should measure one fourth
62 five,
of its own width Both of the doorjambs should consist of three,
seven or nine vertical (decorative) bands and at the lower end as far as
the fourth part of the attitude of the doorframe should be placed the
pratihāras while the remaining part should be embellished with
mangalyavihagas, 63 śrīvṛksas, svāstikas, ghatas, mithunas, patrāvallis,
and pramathas The image (pratimā) enshrined in the garbhagṛha along
with its pedestal (pindikā) ought to have a height equal to that of the
doorway, diminished by one-eighth, of which two-thirds are appropriated
to the image and one-third to the pedestal
According to AP, the plan, elevation and embellishment of temple-
building are dealt within an elaborate manner in chapters 42 and 104
Amazingly enough, chapter 42, contains a sizeable material 64 which
tallying with that of Hayaśīrṣapañcarātram65 particularly the 18 slokas of
the beginning are exactly the same It is important to decide which text is
earlier, and which is later with the copied text of the former However, to
be brief, it seems probable that AP has taken some matter directly from
Hayaśirṣapāñcarātram which is an important samhita of Agamic literature,
datable to the post-Gupta period
66
