Samarangana-sutradhara (Summary)

by D. N. Shukla | 1960 | 15,592 words | ISBN-10: 8121506115 | ISBN-13: 9788121506113

This page describes Rebuilding the broken Torana (Torana-bhanga-shantika) which is chapter 45 English summary of the Samarangana-Sutradhara by Bhoja. This work in Sanskrit representing a voluminous treatise on Vastu-Shastra (the science of Architecture), encompassing a broad range of subjects, such as Architecture, Shilpa-shastra (Iconography, Arts and Crafts) but also deals with Creation-theory, Geography, Philosophu, etc.

Chapter 45 - Rebuilding the broken Toraṇa (Toraṇa-bhaṅga-śāntika)

[Note: This chapter corresponds to Chapter 46 of the original Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra]

[Full title: Toraṇa-bhaṅga-Śāntika (Śāntika to be attended to, if Toraṇa is broken)]

The same Bhaṅga theme (as proposed in the last chapter) is continued here. Its relation is with Toraṇa which is one of the most auspicious member of the house architecture in India. Toraṇabhaṅga means some calamity, some misfortune. A Toraṇa in a building, a temple or a palace, if falls down, or is broken into pieces, or is burnt down, or is bent down or it is spoilt or disfigured by natural agencies like thunder, lightning or forest-fire etc, etc., then misfortunes and calamities are the result. If the whole of its head falls down, it is indeed an augury of great calamity to the king and commander, Pratihāras and the Purohita—the priest and the Brāhmaṇas and the citizens alike. Therefore, Śāntika is enjoined and it should be rebuilt in perfection.

Another interesting notice of this chapter is the entry of a dove and its consequent evils. The entry of a dove in a house or a temple (old or new) is a great curse. He is described as the incarnate death, repository of sin, the low bird. He has four varieties: Śveta, Vicitrakaṇṭha, Vicitra and Kṛṣṇaka and they are all harbingers of misfortunes in ascending order

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