Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words
This page relates 鈥楿ttara and Vajana (Architrave and upper fascia)鈥� of the study dealing with Mayamata鈥攁n ancient Indian architectural treatise dealing with building construction (bhavana-nirmana). It forms part of 鈥淰astuvidya鈥�: a stream of Sanskrit technical literature encompassing village and town planning, temple architecture and other aspects like site selection, orientation, and structural arrangements aimed at promoting harmony and prosperity.
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Part 6.1 - Uttara and 痴腻箩补苍补 (Architrave and upper fascia)
[Full title: Details regarding the Entablature (Prastarakara峁嘺) (1) Uttara and 痴腻箩补苍补 (Architrave and upper fascia)]
Depending on different measurement processes, the uttara should be divided into three categories: 办丑补峁囜笉辞迟迟补谤补, patrabandha, and 谤奴辫辞迟迟补谤补 types. When the width is measured equal to the pillar and the height is equal to that of the width, it should be called 办丑补峁囜笉辞迟迟补谤补 uttara. If the height of the uttara is three-quarters of its width, and the width is equal to the pillar, then it should be known as patrabandha uttara. Similarly, when the height of the uttara is half of its width and the width is equal to the pillar, it is known as the 谤奴辫辞迟迟补谤补 type of uttara.
Maya specifies that the calculation of the architrave at its corners (办补谤峁嘺苍颈谤驳补尘补) should be arranged as three-fourths, half, or a quarter of its width.
trip膩da峁� v膩 tribh膩gonamardha峁� v膩 办补谤峁嘺苍颈谤驳补尘补峁� || (Mayamata 16.3b)
It is also stated that several components of 辫谤补蝉迟补谤补办补谤补峁嘺 should be arranged depending on the svastika, 惫补谤诲丑补尘腻苍补, 苍补苍诲测腻惫补谤迟补, or sarvatobhadra patterns. The height of the 惫腻箩补苍补 (upper fascia of the architrave) should be calculated as one-third or one-quarter of the height of the architrave. The upper part of the 惫腻箩补苍补 should be oriented with nirgama (foliage). This nirgama should be designed in a square shape, and above the nirgama, a 尘耻峁ａ弓丑颈产补苍诲丑补 should be built by a learned Sthapati.
The term 尘耻峁ａ弓丑颈产补苍诲丑补 may indicate a type of string course which should be placed at the top of the 惫腻箩补苍补. P.K. Acharya explains the term as:
鈥淎 molding of the entablature and of the column, a kind of roof, the topmost part of a building, a part of the rampart, and of the arch鈥�.[1]
According to the 办腻尘颈办腻驳补尘补 text, the third moulding from the top (downwards) of the entablature is known as the 尘耻峁ａ弓丑颈产补苍诲丑补 design. Maya states that the 尘耻峁ａ弓丑颈产补苍诲丑补 design can either be associated with 迟耻濒腻 (a molding of the entablature) or built separately on top of the 惫腻箩补苍补. A 辫补迟迟腻产丑耻箩补 (Lotus leaf) should be built with a measurement of half the pillar鈥檚 width or half of its own width. It is also stated that a 诲补峁囜笉补苍颈谤驳补尘补 (gargoyle) should be built attached with 苍腻濒颈 beneath the 惫腻箩补苍补.