Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study)
by K. Vidyuta | 2019 | 33,520 words
This page relates ‘Prakara components (4): Measure of the base and head of pillars’ 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. Prākāra components (4): Measure of the base and head of pillars
Kāśyapa Śilpaśāstra states that the base of the pillar must be of 10, 9 or 8 parts. The head portion of the pillars must be one part lesser than the measure of its base. Thus the pillar must gradually taper towards the peak.
The circumference of the pillar's peak is termed as daṇḍa (XLIII. 39cd-40):
mūlabhāgaviśālaṃ tu dharmanandāṣṭa bhājite ||
ekāṃśarahitāgraṃ syānmūlādagraṃ kramātkṛśam |
agrapādaviśālaṃ tu daṇḍa ityabhidhīyate ||