(v,5) Vāstu in the Purāṇas

Let us now take up Purāṇas most of which have detailed expatiations on architectural matters. Paurāṇika chronology is a matter of great dispute. The Matsyapurāṇa is regarded an early Purāṇa, while Agni and others as later ones. I therefore, need not deal with this controversial matter. My own contention, however, is: Recorded Purāṇas may be not very early, but Puranic tradition must be very very early indeed. In Indian tradition Purāṇas and Itihāsas come just after Vedās—“itihāsapurāṇābhyāṃ vedaṃ samupabṛmhayet”

Puranic lore on Vāstu (architecture), Śilpa (sculpture and Iconography) and Citra (Painting) is simply vast and a casual reference like the one, I am going to make, is not sufficient to bring home to the readers, their full contribution. For completeness’ sake however only broad headings of contents may be tabulated here. Casual references to architecture are met in practically all the 18 Mahāpurāṇas, but the following ten Purāṇas treat the subjcect more systematically, some of which more copiously and elaborately:

1. Matsya-purāṇa. The accounts of eighteen preceptors of the science of Architecture—vide ch. 255, are very important purporting a very early antiquity of this lore. In the chapter entitled Stambha-māna-nirṇaya (ibid) five-fold columns are described and the Sūtra-tradition of the central post as regulator of the whole composition of a building is continued. Prāsādalakṣaṇa (269) and Maṇḍapalakṣaṇa (270) constitute the details of Temple-architecture, plans, measures, storeys, cupolas, steeples. Building materials under Dārvāharaṇa (257) are also discussed. The remaining three chapters (259, 263 and 292) are devoted to sculpture under the headings of ‘Navatāla-lakṣaṇa’ (proportionate measures of an image); Liṅga-lakṣaṇa, and ‘Pīṭhikālakṣaṇa’.

2. Skanda-purāṇa. It is also an early Purāṇa. It devotes three chapters to the subject. Its expatiations on the laying of a large city are of particular interest. Golden hall, chariots and Kalyāṇa-maṇḍapa form the principal subjects of other two chapters. Like Viṣṇudharmottaram this Purāṇa also treats painting, though in a summary manner.

3. Garuḍa-purāṇa. It adds more valuable contributions to Hindu architecture. All the principal topics like Prāsādas, forts, pleasure-gardens, temples, maṭhas, all the three classes of buildings—residential, military and religious have deen described—chaps, 46-47. Its two chapters on sculpture are very important. Śālagrāma images are its chief contribution.

4. Agni-purāṇa. Among all the Purāṇas Agni’s place is unique. It has dilated on the subject at greater length. There are sixteen chapters devoted to the topics of Vāstuśāstra. Only three chapters dealing with ‘Nagarādi-Vāstu (106), the canons of town-planning and those related to Temple-planning the ‘Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa-Kathanam’ (42) and Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa (104) are more important for our present study. The remaining thirteen chapters deal with iconography and sculpture a notice of which has already been taken in my Vāstuśāstra Vol. II. It may be remarked here that Agni-Purāṇa’s and Garuḍa-Purāṇa’s chapters on Vāstu-vidyā are identical. One may be a copy of the other. Further there is a good deal of affinity between the Agni and the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra. Hayagrīva is the Pravaktā of the Agni’s chapters (39 & 42) dealing with temples. Dr. Bhattacharya, therefore, conjectures that the fountain head of both these Purāṇas might be the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra which is itself one of 25 Tantras enumerated in the Agnipurāṇa.

5-9. The Purāṇas like Nārada, Vāyu, Bhaviṣya, Brahma-Vaivarta and Brahmāṇḍa also deal with this subject in their own manner. Needless to multiply (heir contents. Readers may see their contribution in Acharya’s and Bhattacharya’s works.

10. Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa. This Purāṇa forming an appendix of the great Viṣṇu-Purāṇa is a store-house on the arts of architecture, sculpture and painting. The Pt. third on painting is a unique contribution and a detailed comparative and critical account of this matter has been presented by the writer in his work Vāstuśāstra Vol. II. The same part, chapters LXXXVI-VIII, gives a geneological account of about a hundred temples, a detailed notice of which has been taken by the learned author of Hindu Temple, Dr. Kramrisch.