3. Aesthetical Values as reflected in other Sanskrit Texts

222 V.2. Aesthetical Values on preparation of Pleasure Gardens as reflected in other Sanskrit Texts: One should plan for a garden in such a way that the fascinating beauty behind its arrangement will be the point of attraction for all. The reference of such is collected from Visnudharmottara Purana. Thus, in accordance to it, "when a garden although with plentiful of water but still not attractive, one should not plant there those trees which are ill grown. Again, lotuspulls are to be constructed amidst such garden to retain its beauty and allure. Further, it should be aware that on should not enter into such garden without a cloth spread on the ground.' udyanam sajalam rama nabhiramam yada tada/ pravesayenna vipata (kuruhan) puskarinyasca karayet // (Vi.Dh .p., II, ch. 30, v. 6) Describing about gardens in Agnipurana , it says for, "A channel of river is to be brought inside the garden which would give rise to the formation of a puskarini (reservoir). 168 pravesayennadivahan puskarinyam tu karayet// (A.p.,ch. 282, v.4) The attraction and beauty of any water reservoirs like lake, pond etc. gets decorative with the planting of trees, plants (vrksa), 167 Shah Priyabala, tr., Sri Visnudharmottara Purana, Khanda - II, ch. 30, v. 6, p. 70 168 Agni purana, ch. 282, v. 4

223 creepers (lata), bushes (gulma) etc. These are the sources and streams of pleasure to be observed and without them the decency of every such water reservoir ceases. Thus, the science on vastu also reflects the aesthetical value behind the planting of tree, plant, creepers, bushes etc. near gardens, water reservoirs and highways (rajamarga).109 The reflect ion of the aforesaid verse with its same contents is also found in Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira.170 prantachaya vinirmukta na manojna jalasah/ yasmadato jalaprante svaraman vinivesayet// (Brhat samhita, ch.55, v.1 ) Sporadic references about the various ornamental adornments of trees are to be found in Subhassita Suddhanidhi by Sayana. In the kamaparva adhyaya of Subhasita Suddhanidhi which describes all about the method of arranging a pleasure garden, a part of it so entitled as udyanapaddhati speaks about the ornamental classification of various tree parts being adorned by the nature. There are total four verses in udyana paddhati which describe the characteristic of a beautiful pleasure garden in a figurative style. The pleasure garden is figuratively conceived as a royal assembly with nature as like a beautiful dancer being trained by an 169 Tripathy Brahmananda, Brhatvastumala, ch. Vrksaropanaprayojanam, v. 1, p. 153 170 Jugnu Shrikrishna, Edit, Brhat samhita, Part - II, ch. 55, v. 1, p.87 -

224 expert trainer. Now, as the royal assembly between the actors being trained by the expert instructor performs the musical art likewise in the pleasure garden the southern wind is the expert trainer who trains the trees that perform the art of dancing like appearance. By exposing the luster of beautiful buds and by the graceful movement of the tender twigs which resembles the movement of the fingers of a dancer in the pleasure garden where the trees are like the actor, the beautiful creepers are like the dancing damsels, the cuckoo's with their sweet twittering and charming crowns are the producers of beats and sweet tunes of the music. 171 Siksam kamapi daksinanilanatadasadya nrttodyata / Drstva valingatacarukudmalarucim cancatpravalangulih / Yatrodyanasabhasadstarunatastanvirlatasikah/ Slaghante calamaulayah parabhrtam vyaharahaharavaih // (subhasitasudhanidhih,udyanapaddhatih, v. 1)