Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study)
by K. Vidyuta | 2019 | 33,520 words
This page relates ‘Types of Mandapas� of the study on the Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (in English) with special reference to the characteristics of Prakara (temple-components), Mandapa (pavilions) and Gopura (gate-house). The Silpa-Sastras refers to the ancient Indian science of arts and crafts, such as sculpture, architecture and iconography. This study demonstrates the correlatation between ancient Indian monuments (such as temples and sculptures) and the variety of Sanskrit scriptures dealing with their construction.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
2. Types of Maṇḍapas
Four types of ṇḍ貹 based on their utilitarian value are mentioned in the śⲹ貹 Ś貹śٰ.
They are:
And these must be constructed in the Գٲṇḍ or in the Գٲ (XLIV. 5, 6cd)[2] :
mukhamaṇḍa pamādau tu pratimāmaṇḍa pa� tathā |
Բ貹ٳ� ṛtīⲹ� tu nṛttārtha� ca caturthakam ||
...............
Գٲṇḍhārādi antarhārānta� vā kuru ||
The 峾岵 (I. 70. 15) also mentions the above four types of ṇḍ貹 to be duly constructed one before the other in the given order:
tadagre ṇḍ貹� kuryāt pratimā sthapanārthakam |
Բ貹ٳ� tadagre syāt tadagre nṛttaṇḍ貹m ||
(i). Mukha Maṇḍapa
śⲹ貹 states that the mukha-ṇḍ貹 must be constructed in a 岹 of one storey; hence while explaining Ekatala վԲ (Ch. XXVII) he explains the features of this mukha-ṇḍ貹 in detail. In that chapter he describes adhama and uttama types of mukha-ṇḍ貹. The mukha-ṇḍ貹 that measures � times the length of the ū-harmya is adhama; that which measures the same length as the ū-harmya is considered as uttama.
Further the distance between the ū-harmya and the mukha-ṇḍ貹 is to be divided into 8 parts (XXVII. 3):
harmya tārārdhamāna� tu 첹Բⲹ� mukhaṇḍ貹m |
harmya tāra� śṣṭ� tayormadhye'ṣṭa bhājitam ||
The length of the mukha-ṇḍ貹 is of nine types. Those ṇḍ貹 that are equal to the length of the 岹 are uttamas and are of three varieties each.
These ṇḍ貹 are linked to the 岹 like an entrance by a measure of 1 or 1½ or 2 岹ṇḍ; also the door is of the measure of 1 or 1½ parts (XXVII. 4-5):
mukhaṇḍ貹ī� tu Բ 첹ٳ |
岹sadṛśa� � uttamatraya ṇḍ貹m ||
prāsādāśna� śleṣāt 岹ṇḍ� vārdhārdha岹ṇḍkam |
dvi岹ṇḍ� vā ś� tu Բūٰ� dvijottama ||
(sārdha岹ṇḍika岹ṇḍ� vā mānasūtrāttu śnam |)[3]
The mukha-ṇḍ貹[4] is to be decorated well with even number of pillars and all the other components. The ṇḍ貹 must be endowed with an Գٲ or a door in its wall along with a 첹.
If this ṇḍ貹 is endowed with an Գٲ in its centre then it must measure 2, 3 or 4 (岹ṇḍs) long and on either side a flight of stairs decorated with elephant's trunk design must be established (26. 6cd-8ab)[5] :
ܲٲṃbܰٲ� ܰٲ sarvāṃgaśobhitam ||
sāvakāśāntarāla� vā kuḍya屹� sa첹m |
sāvakāśāntarāla� cet tadī� dvitricatuṣkaram ||
DZԲ� pārśvayo� kuryāt gajahastavibhūṣitam |
The measure of the Գٲ walls of the mukha-ṇḍ貹 can be the same measure as the ū 岹 or half of it or three-fourth of its measure. Further, this ṇḍ貹 must be embellished with ūṭa ṣṭ or can also be without them. In addition, this must consist of the three parts or must be embellished with ٴǰṇa and other components.
Thus this mukha-ṇḍ貹 must be of one-storey or multiple-storeys (XXVII. 7cd-9):
岹bhittivistāratulya� vārdhatripādakam ||
Գٲsya bhitteśca vyāsā� syu� maṇḍape tathā |
ūṭakoṣṭhādi ܰٲ� īԲ� vā mukhaṇḍ貹m ||
ٰٲ� 辱 toraṇādyairvicitritam |
ekānekatala� vātha 첹ٲⲹ� mukhaṇḍ貹m ||
This ṇḍ貹 must be constructed in front (or in the inner quarters) of the four types of 岹s (main temple), viz., پ, Chanda, Vikalpa and Ā (XLIV. 1cd-2):
岹syaikabhūmau tu procyate mukhaṇḍ貹� ||
پcchandavikalpānāmābhāsānā� tathaiva ca |
prāsādādimukhe caiva diśāsu vidiśāsu vā ||
They are also built, inside the villages or in their four directions or its intermediate regions or in the gardens or on the riverside or the lakeside, for installing the deities in all the eight directions in front of the 岹s and are to be square-shaped (XLIV. 3-4):
grāmādīnā� tu madhye vā diśāsu vidiśāsu ca |
udyāne vā nadītīre taṭākevā'thavā puna� ||
devārtha� ṇḍ貹� kuryādaṣṭadiṅmukhaṇḍ貹m |
岹syāgrakekuryāt ṇḍ貹� caturaśrakam ||
(ii). Գٲ
After describing the mukha ṇḍ貹, the text explains the necessity and the design of the Գٲ. The four types of ṇḍ貹 as mentioned earlier that are to be constructed in the first two s must be linked with one and another by means of a connecting ṇḍ貹 termed as the Գٲ.
Գٲ literally means “intermediate�; accordingly the ṇḍ貹 connecting the other structures is termed as Գٲ as the verse (XLIV. 7) runs:
maṇḍapānmaṇḍapānta� tu sālādvā maṇḍapāntakam |
Գٲmiti khyātamādau tallakṣaṇa� śṛṇu ||
The extent of the Գٲ varies from 1 to 11 hastas, thus resulting in eleven types of measures. The speciality of the ṇḍ貹 lies in the varied number of rows (貹ṅkپ) (of pillars) that it constitutes. These 貹ṅkپs, range from 1 to 5 depending upon the ṇḍ貹.
Or else the Գٲs can be surrounded by walls with enough space or more space between them (XLIV. 8-10):
첹屹ٰśٳṣpñṣaṭsṣṭ 첹� tu vā |
navadharma첹� 辱 rudrahastamathāpi vā ||
Գٲviśāla� tu rudrasaṃkhyā prakīrtitā |
yatra yanṇḍ貹� kuryāttasminpa� ktyā śṣaٲ� ||
ekadvitricatuṣpañcabhaktyā vā'bhyԳٲkam |
sāvakāśāntarāla� vā bhittibandhamathāpi1 0 vā ||
The Գٲ thus bounded by the walls will be endowed with entrances (ś) on its sides and these entrances must have 1 to 3 pillars in a row.
To their sides and in the middle a door or window (첹) must be designed and to its northern side a water-outlet must be constructed (XLIV. 11-2)[6] :
bhittibandhāntarāla� cet pārśvayorśsaṃyutam |
ekadvitriyapāda� vā ś� bhaktyaikameva vā ||
śǰⲹ 屹� 첹� vā prakalpayet |
uttare Ჹ� ca snānārtha� parikalpayet ||
Moreover, the Գٲ must either have odd number or even number of walls and must also be endowed with the ṣṭԲ, etc. same as the ṇḍ貹 (XLIV. 13):
yugmāyugmātu paṃktirvā'bhyԳٲ� dvijottama |
ṣṭ徱 ṅg� ṇḍ貹ya � bhavet ||
(iii). Description of Ā and other ṇḍ貹
Ā type of temples (sadana) are endowed with ābhāsa ṇḍ貹.
These ṇḍ貹 have 9 types of measures starting from 3 hastas till 19 hastas, adding 2 hastas each time (XLIV. 14cd-5):
ٰٲ� tu samārabhya dvidvihastavivardhanāt ||
evamekonaviṃśa� tu Բ ṇḍ貹� bhavet |
ābhāsa sadanānā� tu � ṇḍ貹� bhavet ||
Similarly starting from 21 hastas adding 2 hastas till 37 hastas, these 9 measures are the measure for the vikalpa ṇḍ貹.
Thus the mentioned measurements suit only for the mentioned ṇḍ貹 (XLIV. 16-7ab):
ekaviṃśatihastādi dvidvihastavivardhanāt |
saptatriṃśati hastānta� ca 첹貹� Բ bhavet ||
ābhāsānā� ca tadyogya� svasvayogyamathāpi vā |
Adding 2 hastas each from 39 hastas to 55 hastas, the chanda ṇḍ貹 have 9 measures too.
In the same way 57 hastas to 73 hastas are the 9 measures for the پ type of ṇḍ貹 and the ṇḍ貹 that are equal to these in their length and breadth are termed as samāśra ṇḍ貹 (XLIV. 17cd-9):
navatriṃśatimārabhya dvidvihastavivardhanāt ||
pañcādhika� tu pañcāśatkarāṃta� chandamucyate |
saptapañcadaśārabhya dvidvihastavivardhanāt ||
岵ԾٲپԳٲ� ṛt پrucyate |
tadvistāra� ī� samāśra� ṇḍ貹� bhavet ||
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Note: Only mukha-ṇḍ貹 is described in Ch. XXVII of the text; the other three are not explained. Probably they form part of the ṇḍ貹 elucidated in IV. 2. (iii).
[2]:
ṃśuٰśⲹ岵, Muktabodha edition, 43. 19, 20cd.
[3]:
ṃśuٰśⲹ岵, Muktabodha edition, 26. 6ab.
[4]:
See Appendix III for picture of վԲ with mukha-ṇḍ貹.
[5]:
The Muktabodha edition is quoted here.
[6]:
ibid., 43. 25cd-27ab.