Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
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built of brick, generally had a well, a bath-room, a
courtyard and a stairway suggesting an upper storey. It
appears that different sites were reserved for residences,
market place, business quarters, places of worship or
temples, and for the followers of different occupations such
as potters, etc."
In the subsequent periods, however, no progress
seems to have been made by the Indians in this line, and
the epics do not throw much light on the cities and the
city life, the descriptions on the whole verging towards
exaggeration.
The Buddhist literature tells us much about the
cities and buildings of that period. It appears that there
were three kinds of cities-Nagara or the capital, Nigama
or a city, and, Janapada or a village. The cities had
fortifications and high towers for the sentries to observe
the enemy from a distance. Beyond the fortified walls
were two ditches, one filled with water and the other with
mud. Outside the city walls, were the so-called suburbs
where the inferior castes such as the potters, the Ca峁囜笉膩las,
etc., resided. There was no vacant place left around the
house for gardens or similar purposes, but the houses
opened directly into the streets. Many houses had
superstructures, the highest one having, it seems, seven
storeys. Greek writers state that the houses were built of
wood and wooden pillars were used, but in view of the
antiquity of the art of lapidary in India, as also on
account of the absence of any conclusive proof in support,
the pillars are taken to be carved out of stones. There
were underground drains for carrying sewage, which were
so big that not only wolves and jackals but even thieves could
enter the city through them after the city walls were closed
for the night. Outside the cities there were public parks
and gardens which were also utilized for religious
discourses. There were also rest-houses or sarais
(Avasathagaras) for travellers."
The Artha艣astra devotes two chapters to stating the
laying out of a new city. The town was to be circular,
rectangular or square in shape. The palace was placed in
1 Cf. Section G of DK area. The information about the Indus civilization
Mohenjo-Daro and the Indus Civilization."
is gathered from Sir John Marshall's
2 Joshi, Aravinda, 1921, pp. 347-350, Rhys Davids, Buddhist India, pp. 63鈥�71,
78.
