Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘Similarities (8): Art and Architecture’ of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
1. Similarities (8): Art and Architecture
[Full title: Similarities between the Two Societies of the Kādambarī and the Harṣacarita (8): Art and Architecture]
Studies on both the kāvyas, show the aesthetic and artistic senses of the people of Bāṇa’s time. It is known from various description of art and architecture, such as the Harṣacarita uses the word citra[1] and ālekhya[2] to imply painting, and varṇaka[3] for various paints. Description of citrapaṭa[4] or citraphalaka[5] a cloth designed with drawing and painting, and citraśālā,[6] picture-hall are there in the Kādambarī. Bāṇabhaṭṭa, hence, remarks that the painters were very expert in drawing and painting.[7]
Again, from the description of various things such as prāsāda[8] (i.e., big buildings), āsthānamaṇḍapa[9] (i.e., a big place where the king’s assembly was held and from there the king announced every important news), fully surrounded and protected walls of the dūrgas i.e., forts made with stones[10] or sometimes with irons,[11] and of water reservoirs,[12] parikhā[13] (moat), surālaya[14] (temples), toraṇa[15] (i.e., royal gate), golden footstool,[16] carmaputrikā[17] (dolls of leather), etc. are some of the commonly found art-works in both the kāvyas.
Again Bāṇa has given hints of the architecture through the description of decorative things inside the royal-palaces such as, citrapaṭa[18] or big paintings, maṅgalālekhya[19] (i.e., auspicious paintings) sakāñcanapratimā[20] (doll made with gold), śālabhañjikā[21] (a clay doll made from Śāla tree). The structure house premises such as-bhuktasthāna (audience hall),[22] bhavanamaṇivedikā[23] (square like board crystal slabs made for taking rest), chandraśālikā[24] (i.e., terrace of the palace), caitya[25] i.e., a monument and dhārāgṛha[26] were the houses furnished with artificial jets of water etc. are described.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid.,II.p.35
[2]:
Ibid.,IV.p.69
[3]:
Ibid.
[4]:
citrapaṭanāṃ mradriyāsaṃ…, Ibid.,VII.p.116
[5]:
Kādambarī,p.143
[6]:
Ibid.,p.85
[7]:
caturacitrakaracakravālalikhyamānamaṅgalyālekhyam, Harṣacarita,IV.p.69
[8]:
[a] Ibid. [b] Kādambarī,p.207
[9]:
[a] visarjitarājalokaḥ……bāhyāsthānamaṇḍapasthāpitamāsanamācakrām. prāstasamāyogaśca kṣaṇamāsiṣṭa, Ibid.,VII.p.114-115 [b] …..visarjitarājalokaḥ kṣitipatirāsthānamaṇḍapāduttasthau, Kādambarī,p.27 [c] Ibid.,p.193
[10]:
śilāprākāreṇa…., Ibid., II.p.33
[11]:
..lohaprākāram.., Ibid.,p.31
[12]:
krīḍāvāpīsamuham, Ibid.,p.69
[13]:
Ibid.,II.33
[14]:
[a] Ibid.,p.43 [b] Kādambarī,p.89
[15]:
samuttambhitatuṅgatoraṇe.., Harṣacarita,VII.108
[17]:
Harṣacarita,II.p.24
[18]:
Ibid.
[19]:
Kādambarī,p.114
[20]:
Harṣacarita, p.31
[21]:
[a] komalavarṇikāvicitrairmitramukhaiśca maṅgalyaphalahastābhirañjalikārikābhirudbhāsitaparyantām, Harṣacarita,IV.p.72
[b] sagṛhadaivatamivaṃ śālabhañjikābhiḥ…, Kādambarī,p.146
[22]:
Harṣacarita,II.p.31
[23]:
[a] viśālasphatikaśilātala…. viśramakāraṇamanirmittaṃ bhavanamaṇivedikāḥ, Harṣacarita,III.p.44
[b] Kādambarī,p.280
[24]:
[a] pratiburdhamānāyaśca candraśālikā…, Ibid.,IV.p.60
[b] candraśālikālīnamūkamaulaloke, Ibid.,V.p.77
[25]:
…pāṭalamūdrācaityakamūrtayaḥ, Ibid.,VIII.p.127
[26]:
[a] Kādambarī, p.85,146
[b] Harṣacarita,p.31