Vastu-shastra (5): Temple Architecture
by D. N. Shukla | 1960 | 69,139 words | ISBN-10: 8121506115 | ISBN-13: 9788121506113
This page describes Prasada styles (E): Bhumija which is chapter 4 of the study on Vastu-Shastra (Indian architecture) fifth part (Temple architecture). This part deals with This book deals with an outline history of Hindu Temple (the place of worship). It furtherr details on various religious buildings in India such as: shrines, temples, chapels, monasteries, pavilions, mandapas, jagatis, prakaras etc. etc.
Chapter 4 - Prāsāda styles (E): Bhūmija
Literally, it is a local style, which must have originated and got developed in some of the renowned centres of art owing their allegiance neither to the styles of the South or the Deccan nor of the North—the two most predominant styles, the Drāviḍa and the Nāgara.
Dr. Acharya (Ency. page 271) has rightly interpreted it:
“It originated on the land or the style of the land, where the document was written”.
He further says.
“In one of the epigraphical quotations (No. 15) Bhūmija is mentioned alongside Drāviḍa and Nāgara and this Bhūmija is apparently the same as Vesara”.
Can it refer to the Assam-Bengal style where theBhauma kings ruled? Nothing however, can be said authoritatively.
The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra in its chapter entitled ‘Bhūmija-prāsāda-lakṣaṇa, the 65th; has described three classes of these Prāsādas, (a detailed notice of which will form a sub-section of the subsequent chapter)—Niṣadha etc. four types of quadrangular temples, Kumuda etc. seven Vṛkṣa-jātīya temples, and Svastika etc. five Aṣṭaśāla temples. It further describes twenty-five varieties of Rekhā—a characteristic ornamentation in the super-structure of the Nāgara temples. All this supports the proposition as already indicated that this is a mixed style like Vesara. The material however, stands in the way of giving a definite location.