Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study)

by A. Yamuna Devi | 2012 | 77,297 words | ISBN-13: 9788193658048

This page relates ‘Architecture (Buildings in a City)’ of the study on the Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (in English) which represents a commentary on the Amarakosha of Amarasimha. These ancient texts belong the Kosha or “lexicography” category of Sanskrit literature which deals with the analysis and meaning of technical words from a variety of subjects, such as cosmology, anatomy, medicine, hygiene. The Amarakosa itself is one of the earliest of such text, dating from the 6th century A.D., while the Amarakoshodghatana is the earliest known commentary on that work.

Architecture (Buildings in a City)

In the section titled Pura varga, Amarakośa gives details about various buildings in a city starting from palaces to huts[1]. A section of this Varga deals with the structural specialities and these supplemented by Kṣīrasvāmin are dealt with here.

(a) Toraṇa (II. 2. 17; p. 77)–

[Decoration of the gate post:]

Kṣīrasvāmin explains toraṇa as the auspicious decoration of flowers hung over the main entrance or gateway, also called vandanamālikā.

This main entrance is also called siṃhadvāra

maṅgalārthaṃ turantyatra toraṇaṃ dvārāgre stambhopari racitaṃ siṃhadvārākhyaṃ maṅgalasra ktoraṇordhve bhavedvandanamālikā |

(b) Hastinakha (II. 2. 17; p. 77)–

[A raised place over the gate:]

Amarakośa defines hastinakha as a raised place over the gate. Kṣīrasvāmin elaborates it further that it is an ascending stair to climb down from the arch gate of the fort; and that which resembles the elephant nail; it is also called apasopāna.

He adds that some consider it as an inner staircase–

durgadvārāvatarṇārthaḥ kramanimno hastinakhābho mṛtkūṭaḥ—āpasopānākhyaḥ kūṭam bahirataṭamantaḥsopānuktaṃ yuddhārthamityeke |

Monier Williams (p.1259, Col. 2)–

“Elephant’s nail a sort of turret or raised mound of earth or masonry protecting the access to the gate of a city or fort (described as furnished with an inner staircase and with loopholes for discharging arrows)”.

Hastinakha according to Kauṭilya (II. 3. 29) is–niveśārdhaṃ hastinakham–the passage way going down ressembling the nails of an elephant; he gives the measurement as half the width of the gateway.

(c) Nāsā (II. 2. 14; p. 76)–

[Upper threshold:]

Agreeing with Amarakośa's definition, Kṣīrasvāmin quotes both the views of Mālā and Ācārya. Mālā seems to agree with Amarakośa while according to Ācārya the upperthreshold is called uttarāsaṅga and the lower is called dehalī

stambhāderityarthaḥ dvāraśākhādha ūrdhvadāruṇī śilānāse iti mālā | yadāha nāsā dārūpari dvārasyādho dāruśilā striyām ūrdhvodumbaramuttarāṅgo'dha udumbaraṃ dehalītyacāryaḥ |

(d) Śilā (II. 2. 14; p. 76)–

[The lower-threshold:]

Amarakośa defines śilā as the lower threshold of a door.

Kṣīrasvāmin also agrees with Amarakośa while explaining the term. He further adds the view of Gauḍa according to whom it means a supporting pillar–

stambhādīnāmādhāradāru śilākhyaṃ stambhordhvaṃ dārvantarasthapanārthaṃ yadāsajyate sā śileti gauḍaḥ |

(e) Argala (II. 2. 18; p. 77)–

[Bar of a door:]

Kṣīrasvāmin explains it as the rod made of either wood or metal which supports or holds the door when pulled. He adds parigha as synonym–

āreṇākarṣaṇena galatyargalaṃ dārumayo loho vā daṇḍaḥ | parighaśca |

Parigha according to Kauṭilya (II. 3. 25, 28)[2] are cross bars used to fasten the doors; the hastinakha seems to refer to iron bars that prevent the door from being broken by the elephants.

(f) Mukham (II. 2. 19; p. 77)–

[Entrance of a house:]

Amarakośa gives niḥsaraṇa as synonym of mukha.

Kṣīrasvāmin explains mukha as that through which one enters or leaves the house and cites Kauṭilya (II. 3. 21)–

gṛhāderniḥsriyate praviśyate ca yena tanmukhaṃ yatkauṭilyaḥ mukhasamaḥ saṃkramo mukhānuvādena niḥsaraṇavidhirvā |

(g) Kakṣā (III. 3. 219; p. 325)–

[Wall:]

Amarakośa mentions that the homonym denotes grass and creeper.

Kṣīrasvāmin adds, that it also denotes a wall and cites the view that the capital should be bilt within the seventh wall–

ca śabdāt pāpe pārśve bhittau ca ||
bhittau yathā—saptakakṣāntarā rājadhānī |

(h) Ārohaṇa and adhirohinī (II. 2. 19; p. 77):

Amarakośa only mentions that the former is sopāna (steps for ascending) and the latter as niśreṇi (steps for descending).

From Kṣīrasvāmin's explanation it is understood that the word ārohaṇa and adhirohinī denote staircase built of wall and the latter nihśreṇi is a ladder made of wood–

āruhyate'varuhyate vānenārohaṇam | sahopānam āstyasmin sopānam |
niśrayati bhittiṃ niyatā śreṇiḥ sopānapaṅktirvātra
niśreṇiḥ |
ādhirohantyavarohanti ca yayā dārumayyā sādhirohiṇī |

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

These are discussed under the section”Town Planning” in Chapter III.

[2]:

dvauparighau |... catvāro hastiparighāḥ |

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