Manasara (English translation)

by Prasanna Kumar Acharya | 1933 | 201,051 words

This page describes “the eight-storeyed buildings (ashtatala or ashtabhumi)” which is Chapter 26 of the Manasara (English translation): an encyclopedic work dealing with the science of Indian architecture and sculptures. The Manasara was originaly written in Sanskrit (in roughly 10,000 verses) and dates to the 5th century A.D. or earlier.

Chapter 26 - The eight-storeyed buildings (aṣṭatala or aṣṭabhūmi)

1. The setting up and the general features of the eight-storeyed buildings [viz., aṣṭatala or aṣṭabhūmi] will be described now.

2-3. The attic (kuṭya,) and other members should be measured as before in proportion to the measurement of the height; and the attic pavilion (kūṭaśālā), etc., should be measured in proportional parts as before.

4-6. The names of the eight kinds (of eight-storeyed building) are (as follows): Bhūkānta, Bhūpakānta, Svargakānta, Mahākānta, Janakānta, Tapaskānta, Satyakānta, and Devakānta.

7-10. The width of the edifice should be divided into seventeen equal parts, (of these) the side-pinnacle (karṇa-kūṭa) should be one part, and the corridor between the chains (hārā) should be one part; the antechamber (anuśālā) should be two parts, and the corridor (antarā-laka) thereof half of that:; and the large hall (mahāśālā) should be made of seven parts in these buildings.

11. At the four cornors of these should be four pinnacles (kūṭu), two compartments (koṣṭha), and eight chains (hārā) and other members

12. There are stated to be eight small halls (kṣudraśālā), and four compartment halls (koṣṭhaśālā).

13. The portico-hall (bhadraśālā) in the middle should be one-third of the central-hall.

14-15. At their two sides should be made the halls (śālā) of two parts and a half each; all the storeys from the ground floor upwards should be similarly furnished (with halls).

16-20. As an alternative, of the eighteen parts (of the width) [?eth?] pinnacle and the chain, should be as before; the groat hall (mahā-śālā) should be six parts, and the four (other) halls, (at the corner) three parts each; the portico-hall (bhadraśālā) in the middle should be one-fourth of the central hall; the antechamber hall in the interior and the portico (proper) should be made of one part, each; the rest should be made as before: this is called the Bhūkānta.

21-27. The width of the eighth-storey being divided into nineteen parts, the width of the pinnacles (kūṭa) should be one part each, and the great hall (mahāśālā) five parts; the antechamber (anuśālā) should be three parts, and the corridor between the chains (hārāntara) two parts, the width of the portico-hall (bhadraśālā) should be three-fourths of the great hall (mahāśālā); the rest should be made as before, then there may be an alternative: the central hall (madhyaśālā) should be made of five parts, and the portico at its middle should be fittingly made; the rest should be constructed as before: this is known as the Bhūpakānta.

28. In this way the smallest typo of eight-storeyed buildings should be constructed.

29-33. The width of the eight-storeyed building being divided into twenty-one parts, the great hall in the centre should be constructed of seven parts; in the middle of that the central hall (madhya-śāla) together with its portico (bhadraka) should be made of five parts; beyond that of three parts should be made the portico-hall (bhadra-śālā); the rest should be made as before: this is known as the Svargakānta.

34. In this way the intermediate type of eight-storoyed buildings should bu constructed.

35-38. The width of the largest type of the eight-storeyed buildings should be divided into twenty-two parts; (of these) the width of the great hall (mahāśālā) in the centre of it should be eight parts; in the middle of that the compartment hall (koṣṭhaśālā) with its portico (bhadraka) should be four parts: thus is decsribed the Mahākānta.

[stray note for 16-38: It may, otherwise, imply the closed quadrangle surrounded by buildings on all four sides, or an enclosed courtyard (see the writer’s Dictionary, page 193.)]

38-39. The same with a portico-hall (bhadraśālā) in the centre of it made of two parts is known as the Janakānta.

40-41. If on the two sides of the main hall (śālā) there be the frontal antechamber (netraśālā) with porticoes (bhadraka), it is called the Tapaskānta, the remaining members being constructed as before.

42-44. The same with a pinnacle (kūṭa) over the central hall (madhyaśālā) and especially on its side, and with the chain (hārā) equal in breadth to the pinnacle (kūṭa), is called the Satyakānta, the rest being made as before.

45-46. The same with the antechamber (anuśālā) and the central hall together with the portico (bhadraka) is called the Devakānta, the upper storeys being constructed as before.

47. This is the largest type of eight-storeyed buildings; this is decorated with all ornaments.

48. The measurement of its different members from the plinth to the small dome is stated here.

49-60. The height of the edifice being divided into forty-one parts, the plinth should be eight parts and the pillar four parts; half of that should be the height of the entablature (lit. roof valabhī), and the pillar should be three and a half parts; (its) entablature (mañca) above should be one and three-fourths parts, the pillar above should be three parts, half of that should be its entablature (mañca) above; the height of the pillar should be two and three-fourths parts, the height of the entablature should be one and one-fourth part; the length of the pillar should be two and a half parts, half of that the height of the entablature; the length of the pillar should be one part and a half, and the entablature one part; the pillar should be two parts and a quarter, and the entablature (mañca) above three-fourths of a part; the height of the pillar should be two parts, and the height of the entablature one part; and above that should be three parts; of these three parts one should be given to the platform (vedi) and two to the height of the neck (gala); the head (śiras) above should be one and one-fourth parts, and the remainder the height of the finial (śikhā).

61-72. The same height is divided by some into seven parts more: the bases at the foot of the pillars one above the other should be made of proportional parts; the side-towers (karṇa-harmya) should be made of one part surrounding the storeys; the interspace between the storeys should be furnished with entablatures decorated with all kinds of ornaments; at its ends a surrounding balcony (alinda) should be made of one part, it (the verandah or balcony) should (also) be made at the region of the base (mūla) and at the region of the upper storeys; it should be decorated with frontal halls (netraśālā), half-halls (ardhaśālā), and the portico-halls (bhadraśālā), etc.; it should (also) be decorated with arches, niches (nest-halls) (niḍaśālā), and the vestibules (nāsikā), etc.; it should be furnished with the chambers (koṣṭha-śālā), central halls, and upper halls; it should be decorated with vestibules (nāsikā), windows (pañjara), and portico-vestibules; the regions of the small halls (kṣudraśālā) should be decorated with all ornaments; the vestibules and windows (pañjara) should be furnished between the limbs of tho side-pinnacle.

73. All the component parts (including) the small vestibules should be ornamented with entablatures and other structures.

74. They should be furnished with various bases, and ornamented with various pillars.

75. They should be furnished with the finials (distinguished) in the Nāgara, Drāviḍa, and Vesara styles[1].

76. They should be made as before and be ornamented with all kinds of ornaments.

Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the twenty-sixth chapter, entitled: “The description of the eight-storeyd buildings.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Nāgara is distinguished by [its?] quadrangular shape, the Drāviḍa by its octagonal or hexagonal shape, and the vesara, by its round shape (see chapter XLIII, 124-125; Suprabhedāgama, XXXI, 37-39, and the writer’s Dictionary, pages 299-302)

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