Brick: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Brick means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Brick represents an important Material for the Construction of Temples, which was carefully tested and processed, according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—Brick (in Sanskrit: iṣṭakā) is one of the most important materials in the construction of a temple as it still bears the similar importance even in the modern era. It is a building material which is used to make walls. In ancient time bricks used to be made of clay which were of four kinds, ūṣara, pāṇḍura, kṛṣṇacikkaṇa and tāmraputtaka.
The procedure of making Bricks is very nicely explained in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa. The book tells that in the brick making process in the first stage all the clay should be dried up in an auspicious ground and thereafter it should be gently mixed with water and moss. After that the dough of the clay should be shaped in a machine which should be one hand in length, half a hand in breadth and one forth hand in height. In that machine the clay should be baked in the fire of wood, cow-dung and grass and thus bricks got prepared. These bricks should be made in proper shape and be arranged skillfully in proper place. This is important to note that only properly baked bricks are accepted for construction. In the Śatapathabrāhmaṇa also, the reference of baked bricks are found which were used for making fire altars during Vedic time.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Bricks in Sanskrit are denoted by Iṣṭakā and is used in the process of creating a Canvas, in the ancient Indian art of Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, it is suggested that before going to start Painting on walls one should plaster a wall. For the process of kuḍya i.e., plastering on a wall, the painter needs iṣṭakācūrṇa i.e., powder of bricks and mṛd i.e., clay as basic ingredients. To prepare this at first the powder of three kinds of brick and one third of clay should be mixed.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+1037): Ishtaka, Pakveshtaka, Ishtika, Koshthaka, Jhamaka, Ginjaka, Prathameshtaka, Ishtakarashi, Aishtaka, Sudhamaya, Zhuan wa, Murdheshtaka, Cavita, Dagdheshtaka, Itthaka, Ginjakavasatha, Mo zhuan, Apanabhrit, Adyeshtaka, Kudya.
Relevant text
Search found 305 books and stories containing Brick, Bricks; (plurals include: Bricks, Brickses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manufacturing of Clay Bricks Using Hybrid Waste Marble Powder and Sugarcane... < [Volume 15, Issue 20 (2023)]
Masonry in the Context of Sustainable Buildings < [Volume 14, Issue 22 (2022)]
Potential Use of Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge in Fabrication of Burnt... < [Volume 14, Issue 11 (2022)]
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
The Evaluation of the Heavy Metal Leaching Behavior of MSWI-FA Added... < [Volume 16, Issue 7 (2019)]
Forgotten Contributors in the Brick Sector in Nepal < [Volume 18, Issue 12 (2021)]
Indoor Temperatures in Low Cost Housing in Johannesburg, South Africa < [Volume 14, Issue 11 (2017)]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kanda VIII, adhyaya 7, brahmana 2 < [Eight Kanda]
Kanda VIII, adhyaya 3, brahmana 1 < [Eight Kanda]
Kanda VII, adhyaya 4, brahmana 2 < [Seventh Kanda]
Arts in the Puranas (study) (by Meena Devadatta Jeste)
5. Building material < [Chapter 3 - Architecture in the Puranas]
1. Introduction (ancient Indian architecture) < [Chapter 3 - Architecture in the Puranas]
6. The preparation of the Wall-plaster < [Chapter 5 - Painting in the Puranas]
The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study) (by Aparna Dhar)
Details of the Agnicayana (fire-building ceremony) < [Chapter 5 - Minor sacrifices and their Political Significance]
Dichotomic interpretation of the Agnicayana Sacrifice < [Chapter 6 - Dichotomic interpretation of the Major and Minor sacrifices]
Importance of the Brāhmaṇa literature < [Chapter 1 - A brief outline of the Brāhmaṇa Literature]
Temple worship and Rituals as per Shaiva Agamas (by Gayathri Balasubramanian)
Part 2.6 - The ritual of Adhyeshtaka-sthapana (placing of the first bricks) < [Chapter 3 - Temple Rituals]
Part 2.7 - The ritual of Murdheshtaka-sthapana (placing of top stones) < [Chapter 3 - Temple Rituals]
Part 3 - The Dhavajastambha (temple deity flag or symbol) < [Chapter 2 - Temple and its Components]