Essay name: Manasollasa (study of Arts and Sciences)
Author:
Mahadev Narayanrao Joshi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay in English studies the Manasollasa authored by Someshvara III, representing an ancient encyclopedic work encompassing over 8,000 Sanskrit verses. The text addresses diverse topics like polity, political sciences, architecture, jurisprudence, iconography, idol-making, and various arts and sciences such as mathematics.
Chapter 4 - Fine arts in Manasollassa
35 (of 100)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
嘟熰境嗉� 209 the buildings such as the posts, the pinnacle, the door
jambs, the roof and the foundation. These were to be
touched and each had a symbolical meaning attached to it.
This shows that from very early times architectural
constructions had been invested with symbolical and
mystic significance, each representing a particular
aspect or condition of the human society. These tradi-
tions must have been handed over from generation to
generation, and even when the original significance had
been forgotten, the structures deviated very little
from their original forms.
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Use, aim and Function of Art
The Manasoll膩sa covers several subjects like dance,
music, prosody, architecture and sculpture. Painting is
also included therein. There is a great stress laid
on the close relationship among fine arts like dance
and music. The study of Vastus膩stra with reference to
sculpture and painting is necessary not only because
the text include these matters, but also because the
Indians discerned a close relation between them, as
well as between the Citrasastra, and the science of
dancing and music. Buildings required decorations
with sculptures and paintings. The figures in such
sculptures or paintings were to be proportionate to the
