22. Art and Architecture

Though, the Brahma Purana does not throw important light

450 regarding art and architecture still from the descriptions, an idea can be formed regarding the construction of cities, temples, palaces and other buildings. From a description of king Indradyumna's preparations for the great sacrifice, the references regarding palace -building and temple-building are obtained. In order to build a temple; experts in various sastras were called to find out the land appropriate for temple-building. The persons expert in vastuvidya or science of building or architecture were called (47.1-3). There were silpins and silpakarmavisaradas. For the construction of a temple, the stones were brought by cutting rocks through carts and boats (47.8,9). The yajnasala or sacrificial hall of king Indradyumna was constructed with hundred palaces, decorated with jewels and corals, with pillars painted with gold, and ornamented with Toranas or arches (47.37,41). The temples shone like gold, were studded with jewels, decorated with banners of variegated colours, having golden ramparts or prakaras and having seven cities (68.36-40). The Brahma Purana furnishes many descriptions of cities. A great city was erected for the svayamvara of Parvati. It was decorated with jewels and Hemamauktikas. The ground was wonderfully engraved with gold and the walls were decorated

451 with Muktahara and sphatika. It was made = fragrant with pleasing smells (36.58). Another description states that a city was constructed with strong ramparts, houses, town-gates or ornamented gateways of temples (gopura), decorated with Trikaca doors, consisting of watch-towers (Attalaka), white palaces, doors leading to main roads, and decorated with moats, ditches or trenches or fosse round the town or fort (parikha) and having ramparts (prakara) and gardens (udyana) (41.14-19). There is another similar description of the city with the addition that it was protected by strong wooden (argalas) and mechanical contrivances (yantras), was welldivided with four paths, was decorated by galleries or terraces in front of the house (vithi) (43.25.27). The temple of lord Visnu is surrounded by seven cities, the first made of gold, the second of Marakata, the third of Indranila; the fourth of Mahanila, the fifth of Padmaraga, the sixth of Vajra and the seventh of Vaidurya. It was decorated with many jewels, golden corals and magnificent pillars (68.39-42). Lord krsna asked for twelve yojanas from the ocean and built there the city Dwarka having big gardens, ramparts (vapra), hundreds of tanks and prakaras (196.13,14). The city Kasi is described as having many castles (Durga) and inner apartments (kostha) (207.42). Yamapuri is described as made up of iron or a coppery red The

452 ን colour having an area of a lakh yojanas, four doors, golden ramparts, decorated by Indranila, Mahanila and Padmaraga. Its eastern door is decorated by banners, vajra, Indranila, Vaidurya, Muktaphala, the northern door by bells, cameras and jewels, the western door by jewels and tomaras, and the southern door of it is covered up by darkness, is very terrible and the sinners enter the land of Yama through this door (214.104-128). The castles were constructed to protect the city (196.11). Round windows (Gavaksa) were kept in the house (128.18). The (Viharasala) pleasure-grounds/were also constructed (140.15). Special platforms were constructed for religious festivals and public sports. Thus the Manca is mentioned at the time of the bath ceremony of lord krsna, Balarama and Subhadra (65.6). At the time of the famous Mallayuddha between krsna-Balarama and Canura-Mustika, the platforms were created for all the people. King Kamsa sat with his retinue on the highest royal platform. Special plateforms were constructed. for women, royal ladies and prostitutes (193.24,27).