Manasara (English translation)

by Prasanna Kumar Acharya | 1933 | 201,051 words

This page describes “the measurement of doors (dvara-mana)” which is Chapter 39 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.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Chapter 39 - The measurement of doors (dvāra-māna)

1. I shall state the rules regarding the door-measures [viz., dvāra-māna]: (their) details will be described now.

2-4. In the houses of the gods, the Brahmans and the other castes, (that is), in (all kinds of) dwellings, walls (kuḍya), gateways (gopura), and temples (maṇḍapa, lit., pavilions), the measure of all kinds of door and windows, etc., should exclude (the measurement of) the pair of pilasters (attached thereto).

5-6. The twenty-three kinds of door-height should begin from one and a half cubits, and end at seven cubits, the increment being by six aṅgulas (i.e., a quarter cubit).

7. The large doors are thus stated, and the smaller ones will be described here (below).

8-9. The seventeen kinds of height of the smaller doors should begin from one cubit and end at three cubits, the increment being by three aṅgulas (i.e., one-eighth cubit).

10-11. The thirteen kinds of height of the windows should begin from twelve aṅgulas (i.e., half a cubit) and end at two cubits, the increment being by three aṅgulas (i.e., one-eighth cubit).

12. This should be the height of the door proper; its breadth is described here (below).

13. The width of all kinds of the door proper should be one-half of its height.

14. As an alternative, (the measurement) of the main (front) door is stated in comparison with the (main) pillar of the house.

15-16. The height of such pillars being divided into eight, nine, or ten (equal) parts, the height of the door is said to be less than those parts by one.

17. And the breadth is said to be a half of that (height). Now that (door-measure) is stated in comparison with the building.

18-20. The nine kinds of height of the smallest and other types should begin from one and three-fourths cubits and end at three and three-fourths cubits, the increment being by six aṅgulas (i.e., a quarter cubit): thus should be constructed the main door of a building of the smallest size.

21-23. The nine kinds of height, consisting of three kinds in each of the smallest and the other (i.e., the intermediate and the largest) types, should begin from two cubits, and end at four cubits, the increment being by six aṅgulas (i.e., a quarter cubit): thus should be the height of the main door of a building of the intermediate size.

24-26. The nine kinds of height of the smallest and the other types should begin from two and a half cubits, and end at four and a half cubits, the increment being by six aṅgulas (i.e., a quarter cubit): this is said to be the main door which should be attached to the building of the largest size.

27. These are the twenty-seven kinds of (the door) height; the breadth should be one-half of the height in each case.

28. This is said to be (the measure of the main door) in the buildings of the Jāti class; that (i.e., the door measures) of the buildings of the Chanda and the other classes will be described (now).

29-30. The width of the (main) door of (a building) of the Chanda class should begin from twenty-five aṅgulas, and end at one hundred and twenty-three aṅgulas, the increment being by two aṅgulas.

31-32. The breadth of the door of (a building of) the Vikalpa class should begin from twenty-one aṅgulas, and end at one hundred and twenty-one aṅgulas, the increment being by two aṅgulas.

33-34. The breadth (of the door of a building) of the Ābhāsa class should begin from nineteen aṅgulas, and end at one hundred and eleven aṅgulas, the increment being by two aṅgulas.

36. The height (of the door) should be twice its breadth: this is said to be the common (rule) in each case.

36-37. As an alternative, it (the height) may be greater than twice (the breadth) by one-fourth, or one-half; (another alternative being that) the height of the door should be of nine parts, while the breadth is of five parts.

38. The application of the rules of the six formulas known as āya, etc., (in regard to door-measure) will be described now[1].

39. All the (six) formulas beginning with āya should be considered with regard to the door-height of the Jāti class of buildings.

40. But the āya and all other formulas should be considered with regard to the breadth (of the door) in all other classes of buildings beginning with the Chanda.

41. The increment (i.e., multiplication), and decrement (i.e., division), etc., in regard to all (the formulas concerning the door-measure) should be the same as said in connection with the storeyed buildings[2].

42-43. It is auspicious to make doors of the smallest measurement in the buildings of the smallest size, of intermediate measurement in the intermediate buildings, and of the largest measurement in the largest buildings.

44-46. If the measure (of the door) be too small or too large, that is, the smallest door in the largest building, or the largest door in the smallest building, or the intermediate door in those two (the smallest and the largest), or those two doors in the intermediate type of buildings: all these would be ruinous to all prospects of the people of all castes.

47-48. The Śāntika and other heights[3] should be made for doors as in the case of buildings; this being done it would be fruitful for health, longevity of life, fruition, and happiness.

49. If the reverse be done, it would cause misfortune to the kings and others.

50. Thus is described the measurement of the door; the pillars, etc., (thereof) will be described now.

51-52. By the sides of the door proper should be attached pillars of the same height as of the door; otherwise the attached pillar may extend up to the top of the storey or the arcitrave [architrave?][4].

53. Two holes should be made at the bottom and top each, of the door-joint (between the long style and the frame).

54. At the bottom and top of the two styles (paṭṭikā, fillet) the door should be furnished with pointed projection (śikhā).

55. Thus is described the wooden door whereof a portion (i.e., the base) should be of stone.

56-60. The door at the (boundary) wall should be of twelve parts; along the middle of its outer ares of five parts by seven parts in the interior the width of the meeting style (lit., door-joint) should be three, four, five, six, seven, (or) eight of those parts; a half of that should be its projection, or it (the projection) may be made equal to the width or three-fourths of it.

61. The length, breadth, and thickness of the long style (paṭṭikā) should be proportionate to the door.

62. There should be two meeting styles (door-joints) or two long styles (paṭṭikā).

63. It (the door) should be quadrangular (i.e., rectangular) or square, and be adorned with ornaments (mentioned below).

64. The measure of thickness at the upper portion of the meeting style (lit., joint) should be of nine parts by the outside.

65-66. The long style (paṭṭa) at the end of the wall (kuḍya) should be of four parts, of which two parts should be the band (bandhana); the short style (or fillet, kampapaṭṭa) should be one part and it should be attached at the region of the band (bandha).

67-69. As an alternative, the long style (paṭṭa) may be of one part, the lotus inside it should be of half a part, the short style (kampa) should be made of half a part, and the corner baud is stated to be of one part. The lotus is (generally) fixed at the centre, but it would be immaterial if il be attached at the end.

70. The outer long style (paṭṭa) should be one part, when the portion (lit., limb) at the bottom (lit., ground) should be of two parts.

71. The lotus (padma) should be of two parts, and the short style (kampa) of one part.

72. The middle (i.e., at the meeting style) the base should be two parts, and the external lotus (also) two parts.

73-74. On the outer side of the long style (paṭṭikā) joint there should be (left) one part round the door; or there should be some ornament, otherwise the long style (paṭṭikā) alone should be made.

75-76. The (recessed) portion at the corner in width of the meeting style may, otherwise, be double; the base and top of the meeting style should be raised (lit., high), and the (lotus) buds should be arranged at the top.

77. It (the door) should be adorned with all ornaments, and decorated with leaves and creepers.

78-79. Covering the upper and middle portions (of the door) the (image of the) supreme king should be arranged; on its sides should be the retinue, at the end of which should be carved a pair of elephants.

80. On the right (leaf) should be made (the image of) Gaṇeśa (the God of success), and on the left (that of) Sarasvatī (the Goddess of learning).

81. It should be furnished with the umbrella and the chowry, and adorned with arches and other ornaments.

82. At the bottom it should be decorated with pitchers (as if) full of water, and with mirrors

83. This should be always made for the sake of security and as a source of prosperity.

84. As an alternative the width of the meeting style (lit., door-joint) will be specified now.

85-88. The width of the meeting style should begin from three four, five, or six aṅgulas, and be increased by two aṅgulas to twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, or up to twenty-five aṅgulas.

89-90. Or the width of the smallest, (the intermediate and), up to the largest types, should begin from one cubit and end at three cubits, the increment being by three aṅgulas.

91. The expert (architect) should make the door with wood or stone.

92. The smallest breadth should be (more) suitable for the width of the meeting style in all cases.

93-94. This measurement of the door should be applied in buildings (of all castes); this may also be applied in temples of gods; there is no restriction (lit., defect) about it.

95. The measurement of the door should be made together with (i.e., including) the door-ornaments.

96. The length and width of the door-leaf (kavāṭa) should be proportionate to the length and width of the door.

97. The thickness of the leaf should be one, two, three, four, or five (i.e., one-fifth part of the width).

98. One or two leaves should be symmetrically attached thereto (i.e., to the door).

99. A pair of wood is unsuitable; therefore, a single piece of wood should be used (for the door-leaf).

100. When there are two door-leaves, two single pṭeces of wood should be used.

101-102. The right leaf should be wider in breadth and the left leaf should be less by one, two, or three aṅgulas.

103-104. The whole of that (difference between the two leaves) should be the (measure of the) width of the cupola-like termination, and its height should be double of it (the width); all the cupola-like terminations should be round in shape, and should be tapering like the female-breast from the root upwards.

105-110. The door-frame should inwardly end at (i.e., but against) the door (leaf) proper; the width of the frame should be inwardly three, four, five, or aix aṅgulas; along the length, of the leaf the width of the frame may be made greater by two, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve parts; otherwise the (same) width (preferably) should be made three, four, five, or six aṅgulas; (thus) it should be made (of the same measure) along the length and width of the door (leaf) proper.

111-112. The mullion (āyadaṇḍa) should be made three, five, or seven series; this should be symmetrically made in all the large and small ones (i.e., doors).

113-114. In all (doors) the lotus, leaves, etc., should be gracefully ornamented covering one-fourth of the quadrangular panels within the (four) joints.

115. The large door as well as the small door at the enclosure (wall, prākāra) should be furnished with two leaves (kavāṭa) each.

116-119. The length (of the nail-socket) should begin from seven aṅgulas and be increased by two aṅgulas to twenty-five aṅgulas; the width should be three or four aṅgulas; a half of that should be made its thickness, and its height should be three, four, or five aṅgulas; thus is described the nail-socket. The nail (itself) will be described (now).

120-121. The length of the nail (kīla) should be equal (i.e., proportionate) to the length of the socket, and the width of the nail should be, according to one’s liking, one, two, or three aṅgulas,

122-123.. If there be a single pair of leaves the nail-socket should be fixed on the right side of the door (leaf) as well as at the foot of the door,

124. There should be fixed knobs (parvan) at the bottom and top of the nail, and boles at the socket.

125. The iron nail and the long style (paṭṭa) should be adorned with lotuses and leaves, etc.

126. Two nail-pikes (kīlaśūla) should be fittingly made for all the leaves (kavāṭa).

127. The wise (architect) should make them sufficiently strong and graceful.

128-129. On the upper part of the door (leaf) as well as cm the lower half attached to the base the long styles should be furnished with holes, and the upper pike of the loaf (kavāṭa) should be driven, into those holes.

130-131. For the inside doors (i.e., other than those on the enclosure wall) there may be fitted one leaf, the nail, and the socket, as also two leaves.

132-133. At the middle of the length and width of the leaf there should be a pair of holes, and in each of those holes the nails should be driven from upwards.

134. In this way leaves should be fittingly attached at the right and left.

135. For the main temples of the gods the left leaf should be of larger size[5].

136. In case of the residential buildings of all people the wise (architect) should make the edge (of the door-leaf) according to one’s liking.

137. Thus should be made the door by the architect (sthapati) with the help of his assistants (sthāpaka).

138. In all kinds of divine buildings (i.e., temples) the middle door should be furnished with lattice-work.

139. In the buildings of the twice born and the other castes the wise (architect) should furnish (with lattice) the windows (not the doors).

140-141. In all kinds of buildings of the gods, the Brahmans, and the other castes, mullions of the fitting shape and as desired should be made at the middle.

142. The characteristic features and measurement of the door-style (paṭṭikā) will be stated now.

143-144. The door-style should be furnished with panels at the middle of the front side (of the leaf) with projection of one or two parts (from the face of the leaf).

145. The width of the door-style (paṭṭikā) should be one, three, or five parts.

146-147. The height of the door-style should be twice, one-and-three-fourths, or one-and-a-half of the width.

148-152. The height (of the door) being divided into eight parts, the lintel (masūraka) should be one part; twice that should be the height of the pillar (or the base, lit., foot), and a half of that the height of the entablature (prastara); equal to that should be the height of the neck (grīva), and the height of the cupola-like termination (śikhā) two parts; one-half of that should be the height of the dome (stūpi) and the head (śiras) should be shaped like a hall (śālā), or together with the wall (bhitti) it should be shaped like the nose (nāsikā).

153. Thus is described the assemblage of six members; the assemblage of four members (of the door) will be described now.

154-155, The height (of the door) being divided into six parts, the base (vedikā) is said to be of one part, the pillar (pāda) two parts, the head (śiras) two parts, and the cupola (śikhā) the rest (i.e., one part): these should be made as aforesaid.

156-157. The ancient (teachers) said that those (members) should be adorned with all ornaments; if the reverse be done through ignorance, it would ruin all prosperity.

158-161. If the doors be made in proper places and with measurement mentioned above, in the buildings of the gods, the Brahmans, the Kṣatriyas, the Vaiśyas, and others, it would be the source of all prosperity.

Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the thirty-ninth chapter, entitled: “The measurement of doors.”

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

For details see chapter IX, etc., and the writer’s dictionary, page 600.

[2]:

See chapter XXX, pages 168-194, 285 and 286.

[3]:

Including pauṣṭiki, jayada, sarvākamika or dhanada, and adbhuta (compare chapter XXXV, pp. 21 to 25, and the writer’s dictionary, pp. 82 and 83).

[4]:

Compare lines 15 and 16.

[5]:

Compare lines 101 to 104 above, 54

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