A Summary of the Samarangana-Sutradhara of King Bhojadeva

This [samarangana-sutradhara of king bhojadeva] is also a huge compilation completed in eighty-three chapters, edited by Ganapati Sastri, and printed in two parts from Baroda. (1) Mahasamagama-deals with the arrival of the heavenly architect, Visvakarman, to build villages, towns, and buildings, etc., Manasara, I. (2) Visvakarmanah putra-samvada-refers to the children of the heavenly architect, M., II. (3) Prasna questions regarding houses, etc., cf. M., III. (4) Mahadadi-sarga-deals with the creation of things and the world. (5) Bhuparimiti-deals with the division of the world into different countries and islands. (6) Sahadevadhikara-deals with the first human attempt to build houses with forest trees. (7) Varnasrama-vibhaga-classification of human beings into castes and orders with a view to place them in various kinds of villages and towns. (8) Bhupariksha-examination of soil, M., Chapters IV, V. (9) Hasta-laksha na-scheme of measurement, M., II. (10) Pura-nivesa-moats, enclosures, etc., of villages and towns, M., IX, X. (11) Vastu-traya-vibhaga-site-plans, M., VII (12) Nadyadi-siradi-vikalpa-continuation of the site plans, M., VII. (13) Marma-bheda-continuation of site plans, M., VII. (14) Purushanga-devata-nighantvadi-nirnaya-spirit of the site, M., III. (15) Raja-nivesa-forts and fortified towns for kings, M., X. (16) Vana-pravesa-to go to forests for wood and timber, M., XV (17) Indra-dhvaja-nirupa na-instruments for cutting wood, etc., continuation of (16), M., XV. (18) Nagaradi-samjna-towns, M., X. (19) Chatus-sala-vidhana --houses with courtyard and buildings on four sides, compilation from several chapters of Manasara and other works. (20) Nimnochchadi-phala-levels of the building site, M., VII. (21) (Dva-saptati)-trisala-lakshana-certain-plan with buildings on three sides of the courtyard, M., XXXV. 178

(22) Dvi-sala-grha-lakshana-other plans with buildings on two sides of the courtyard, M., XXXV. (23) Eka-sala-laksha na-single-rowed houses, M., XXXV. (24) Dvara-pitha-bhitti-manadi-door, pedestal, wall, etc., XXXVIII, XXXIX, XIII, etc. M., (25) Samasta-grihanam samkhya-kathana-Mansions of various kinds, M., XXXV. (26) Ayadi-nir naya-formula for verification of correct dimensions, compilation from various places in M. (27) Sabhashtaka-eight kinds of halls, compilation from various places in M. (28) Griha-dravya-pramana-mostly on doors, M., XXXVIII, XXXIX. (29) Sayanasana-laksha na-bedsteads and seats, etc., M., XLIV, XLV. (30) Raja-griha-royal palaces, M., XL. (31) Yantra-vidhana-lit. architectural instruments (cf. engineering chapters of Vitruvius), compilation from various sources. (32) Gaja-sala elephant stables, compilation from various places in M. (33) Asva-sala-horse stables, compilation from various places in M. (34) Aprayojya-prayojya-sculptures and paintings on palaces, continuation of (30), M., XL. (35) Sila-nyasa-vidhi-on foundation, M., XII. (36) Bali-dana-vidhi-religious offerings, M., VIII. (37) Kilaka-sutra-pata-nails, etc., compilation from various places in M. (38) Vastu-samsthana-matrka-distribution of houses in the plot, M., XXXVI, XXXVII. (39) Dvara-guna-dosha-on doors, M., XXXVIII, XXXIX. (40) Pitha-mana-plinth, cf. M., XIII. (41) Chaya-vidhi-on plinth, continuation of (40), M., XIII. (42) Santi-karma-vidhi-offerings, etc., M., VIII. (43) Dvara-bhanga-phala-on orientation M., VII. (44) Sthapati-laksha na--qualifications, etc., of the architects, M., II. (45) Ashtanga-laksha na-on site-plans, distribution of buildings, road-measures, etc., a confused compilation of several chapters in M. (46) Torana-bhangadi-santika-on ritualistic matters, continuation of (42). 179

(47) Vedi-lakshana-on platforms, pedestals, etc., in many places in M. (48) Griha-dosha-nir upana-on defective construction, cf. M., LXIX. (49) Ruchakadi-prasada-laksha na-on palaces and vimanas, cf. M., XVIII, XL. (50) Prasada-subhasubha-laksha na-continuation of (49). (51) Ayatana-nivesa-dimensions of palaces, etc., continuation of (49). (52) Prasada-jati-classification of palaces, continuation of (49). (53) Jaghanya-vastu-dvara-on doors, M., XXXVIII, XXXIX. (54) Prasada-dvara-mana-on palace doors, continuation of (49). (55) Mervadi-shodasa-prasada-on palaces, continuation of (49). (56) Ruchakadi-chatuh-shashti-prasada-on palaces, continuation of (49). (57) Mervadi-vimsika-on palaces, continuation of (49) and (55). (58) Prasada-stavana-on distribution of palaces to kings and gods, continuation of (49). palaces, (59) Vimanadi-chatuh-shashti-prasada- on of (49). (60) Sri-kutadi-shat-trimsat-prasada-on palaces, of (49). continuation continuation (61) Pitha-panchaka-five varieties of plinth and pedestal, M., XIII, LIII. (62) Dravida-prasada-laksha na-Dravidian palaces of two to storeys, cf. M., XX-XXVIII. (63) Mervadi-vimsika-nagara-prasada-Nagara palaces, M., XIXXXX. (64) Dig-bhadradi-prasada-on palaces, continuation of (49). (65) Bhumija-prasada-on local palaces, continuation of (49). (66) Mandapa-lakshana-on pavilions, M., XXXIV. (67) Sapta-vimsati-mandapa-on pavilions, M., XXXIV, continuation of (66). (68) Jagatyanga-samudayadhikara-on platform in palaces, continuation of (49). (69) Jagati-lakshana-continuation of (68). (70) Linga-pitha-pratima-laksha na--on pedestal of the phallus and on altars and images, M., LIII, LXIV. (71) Chitroddesa-on paintings, from several places in M. (72) Bhumi-bandha-on paintings, continuation of (71). 180

(73) Lepya-karmadika-on paintings and whitewashing, continuation of (71). (74) Andaka-pramana-on paintings, continuation of (71). (75) Manotpatti on proportionate measures of images, same as Tala-mana of Manasara, LXV, LXVI, LIV-LXIII. (76) Pratima-lakshana-on images, M., LXIV. (77) Devadi-rupa-prahara na-samyoga-on images, M., LI, LIV, etc. (78) Dosha-guna-nirupana-defects and merits in images, M., LXIX. (79) Rijvagatadi-sthana-lakshana-on postures and attitudes of images, in many places in M. (80) Vaishnavadi-sthanaka-lakshana-on erect and other postures, continuation of (79). (81) Pancha-purusha-stri-lakshana-on images of birds, M., LX, etc. (82) Rasa-drshti-lakshana-on expressions of images, continuation of (79). (83) Patakadi-chatuh-shashti-hasta-lakshana-on patterns and designs of paintings, in several places in M. This outline of the contents of a modernized text will clearly show its compilation in a confused manner. There is no logical sequence or order in the arrangement of the chapters. The contents of the same chapter have been unnecessarily described in several chapters. The patron being a king, and the primary object being the royal palaces, some twenty-one chapters (XLIX-LXX) have been devoted to the same subject. Because the compilation was largely, if not wholly, based on the Manasara, however, some thirteen chapters at the end have been devoted to the subjects of sculpture and painting, as has been done in the Manasara, although the treatment is less methodical. The preliminary chapters dealing with the origin of the world and arrival of the heavenly architect are the only original, but entirely non-architectural, matters. 181