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 4 - Forts
25 (of 31)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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165
exchange centres and centres of political importance. The fort of Gwalior
under Gurjara Pratih膩ras was not only a military unit but it also functioned
as commercial centre where the merchants represented in the city.
council. An epigraph of ninth/tenth century refers to the fort of Kollam or
107 Quilon in south India which developed into a centre of international
commercial actitivity.
Fortification was carried out not only for protection but also to
highlight the affluence of the cities and towns, and when the fear of
external aggression receded in the background the beautification of city-
gates and ramparts assumed the prime attention of the nobles.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
Kautilya's Artha艣膩stra, book II, chap. III, p. 50.
Prabhakar V. Begde, Forts and Palaces of India, New Delhi, 1982,
p. 3.
Macdonell and Keith, Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, pura, pp.
538-39 and gr膩ma, pp. 244-45.
4.
V.R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, War in Ancient India, Madras, 1944,
p. 250.
Manusmriti, 7. 74.
5.
6.
Ibid.
