Manasara (English translation)
by Prasanna Kumar Acharya | 1933 | 201,051 words
This page describes “the images of yakshas, vidyadharas, and other mythical beings” which is Chapter 58 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 58 - The images of Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, and other mythical beings
1. The characteristic features of the Yakṣas, the Vidyādharas, and similar other beings will be described now.
2. They should have two arms and two eyes, and should be furnished with the karaṇḍa type of crown.
3. Their legs should be clad in clothes, and they should resemble the shape of the demons.
4. The complexion of the Yakṣas should be bright blue (śyāma) and yellow (pīta).
5. The complexion of the Vidyādharas should be dark red (śyāmarakta) and yellow.
6. The Yakṣas, the Vidyādharas, and such other beings should be measured in the nine tāla system.
7. The Yakṣas are the followers of the gods, and the Vidyādharas are their bearers.
8. The Gandharvas are efficient in singing, eto., and form the musician (band) party of the divine troop (gulma).
9. There are also those, called the Rākṣasas and the Nigrahas, who are sub-classes of the Yakṣas.
10. The Yakṣas are the bearers of the chowries and other emblems (liveries) of the gods.
11. The Yakṣas, the Vidyādharas and others should be made in the erect or the sitting posture.
12. Their right leg should be in the svastika (cross-like) pose, and the left leg bent.
13. One hand should hold up the chowries, etc., and the other should keep touching the ground.
14. These are the features of the Yakṣas. The Vidyādharas should be made ṇṭ the sitting posture.
15. Their two legs should resemble the plough shape, and be kept extended turned from the front towards the back.
16. Their two bands should be kept touching the knee and raised towards the gateway.
17. Thus are described the Vidyādharas; they should be adorned with all ornaments.
18-19. The Gandharvas are stated to be characterised by their erect posture, by their staging in a dancing pose with a lute or a churning stick, and by other musical instruments including the lute.
20-24. The legs should be like those of animals, the upper body like that of man, the face like that of the Garuḍa bird, the arms furnished with wings, the crown decorated with a lotus, the complexion like the shaded flower, and the sweet lutes should be kept around them: such are the characteristic features of the Kinnaras.
Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the fifty-eight chapter, entitled: “The description of Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, and other mythical beings.”