Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study)

by K. Vidyuta | 2019 | 33,520 words

This page relates ‘Fundamental Canons of Architecture (Introduction)’ of the study on the Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (in English) with special reference to the characteristics of Prakara (temple-components), Mandapa (pavilions) and Gopura (gate-house). The Silpa-Sastras refers to the ancient Indian science of arts and crafts, such as sculpture, architecture and iconography. This study demonstrates the correlatation between ancient Indian monuments (such as temples and sculptures) and the variety of Sanskrit scriptures dealing with their construction.

4. Fundamental Canons of Architecture (Introduction)

The main purpose of the Vāstuśāstra is to provide norms for constructing buildings; hence standard manuals of Hindu science of architecture, expounds a large number of canons of architecture.

The fundamental canons of this śāstra are:

  1. Bhūparīkṣā–Soil-selection;
  2. Dikpariccheda or Dikparicchedana–Doctrine of orientation;
  3. Vāstu-pada-vinyāsa–Site-planning;
  4. MānaMeasurements of the structure and
  5. Āyādi-Ṣaḍvarga–Six components of the structure, viz., Āya, Vyaya, Aṃśa, Ṛkṣā, Yoni and Vāra-tithi.
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