In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Mānopakaraṇa (मानोपकरण):—A Sanskrit technical term, roughly corresponding to the “primary conceptual instrument of measurement”, as used in the science of Hindu architecture (also known as the Vāstu-śāstra). It is explained in texts such as the Mānasāra.

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra

Mānopakaraṇa (मानोपकरण).—The compound mānopakaraṇa is comprised of the nouns māna and upakaraṇa. The latter, upakaraṇa, derives from upa + √kṛ. The prefix upa, having the senses of “nearness” and “subordination,” modifies the meaning of the generic root √kṛ, “to do, make,” as “to furnish with, bring near, prepare, arrange, serve.” Upakaraṇa has the senses of both the act [of furnishing, bringing near], and its instrument, The compound is glossed commonly as a ṣaṣṭī-tatpuruṣa, which reads as mānasya-upakaraṇam, and is translated as “instruement of measurement.” In this interpretation, mānopakaraṇa has a concrete sense, and encompasses both conceptual and physical instruments.

If both māna and upakaraṇa are translated in their more abstract senses as “measure” and “instrumentality” resepctively, then the interpretation of the compound assumes a more “essential” sense, as “the instrumentality of measure.” The concrete sense of mānopakaraṇa as “an actual instrument of measurement” may be understood as deriving from its essential sense.

context information

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)

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra (iconography)

Mānopakaraṇa (मानोपकरण, “instrument of measurement”).—In this interpretation, mānopakaraṇa has a concrete sense, and encompasses both conceptual and physical instruments. In the Mānasāra, the primary conceptual instrument of measurement is the basic system of units of measurement. However, a more expanded reading of mānopakaraṇa would extend its scope a1so to systems of iconographic measurement, as weil as āyādi ṣaḍvarga, the set of six formulae used to verify the measurements for auspiciousness against astrological contingencies. These are the specifically “arithmetical” instruments.

context information

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: eScholarship: The descent of scripture: a history of the Kamikagama

Manopakaraṇa (मनोपकरण) refers to the “instruments to be used for measurements”, according to the Kāmikāgama: an ancient Śaiva Āgama scripture in 12,000 Sanskrit verses dating to at least the 5th century and represented as an encyclopedic account of ritual instructions (kriyāpāda).—In modern print editions, the Kāmika-āgama is structured in two major parts. The Pūrvabhāga consists of 75 chapters (paṭalas) [...] Chapters 9 to 34 present a general account of the principles and preliminary rites for the construction of temples, houses, buildings, and settlements. [...] In Chapter 15, we find instructions for the placement of a gnomon. Chapters 16 and 17 describe the instruments to be used for measurements (manopakaraṇa) and the placement of a construction diagram.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Upakarana, Mana.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Manopakarana, Mana-upakarana, Mānopakaraṇa, Māna-upakaraṇa; (plurals include: Manopakaranas, upakaranas, Mānopakaraṇas, upakaraṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)

Chapter 2 - The Qualifications of Architects and the system of Measurement

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Vastu-shastra (1): Canons of Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)

(vi) Mayamata [Mayamatam] (Summary) < [Chapter 5 - Study of Hindu Science of Architecture]

(v) Mānasāra (Summary) < [Chapter 5 - Study of Hindu Science of Architecture]

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