Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study)
by K. Vidyuta | 2019 | 33,520 words
This page relates ‘Construction of Gate-houses’ 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.
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8. Construction of Gate-houses
Kāśyapa Śilpaśāstra states that it is mandatory to construct dvāraśobhā gopuras in all the four directions of the prākāras. These dvāraśobhās may be designed at the centre of the wall, i.e., at the mid-point of its length or else it must in the same line as the centre of the main harmya. Also, there must be only one main gate and all others must be of the form of jālaka (latticed openings).
The exterior part of the dvārasobhā must measure 1 to 5 daṇḍas in length (XLIII. 76-8):
prākāreṣu caturdikṣu dvāraśobhādi kalpayet |
prākāratati madhye tu dīrghamadhye ca veśanam ||
athavā mūlaharmyasya madhye tadveśanāṃśaṃkam |
pradhānadvāramekaṃ vā dvayaṃ vā'nyattu jālakam ||
prākāramevamākhyātaṃ bāhye vidhirvidhīyate |
ekadvitricatuṣpañcadaṇḍaṃ vā vidhivistṛtam ||[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Aṃśumatkāśyapāgama, the Muktabodha edition, 42. 83-5.