2.9. Sutradhara Mandana

Sutradhara Mandana 143 was a prolific writer of treatises on architecture and sculpture. Tradition represents his family 143. In the unique library of Kavindracarya (17 th cent.) Some of the MSS of Mandanas works have been stored. (Kavindra Suci Nos. 2146 2147, 2150, 2151, edited by R. Anantakrishna. G. O. S. XVII, 1921). Mandana's works are very popular in Gujarat hence several copies of MSS in original form as well as with commentary in old

Sources of Architectural Canons 271 originally belonging to Patan in Gujarat 144 and having shifted to Mewar. He was patronised by King Kumbha Karna of Mewar 145 The following works 146 are ascribed to Mandana. 1. Devata-Murti - Prakranna.ª Gujarati are found lying with the artizans. Separate commentary (Tika) are also found under the head of Prasada-Tika, Rajavallabha Tika etc. (Catalogue of Sans. MSS in private libraries of Gujarat etc. 1872. p. 276) 144. N. Y. Gosai, Rajavallabha (1911) Intro. p. 6. not Mokala, The copper-plate in the possession of Shri Bhanwarlal, former chief mason of Udaipur state who claims to be a descendant of Sutradhara Mandana; (cf. EP. Ind. XXIV. p. 64 f. n. 1 and published in the Indian Historical quarterly calcutta, XXX(2) June 1954, pp. 178-182) dated V. S. 1482 (1425 A. D.) states quite specifically that Mokala invited and procured with great difficulty Mandana, a native of Gujarat as he was in need of an expert on the study of sculpture aud architecture. Inspite of the fact that the text of the exisiting plate, as shown by Shri R. C. Agrawala (Indian Historical Quarterly XXXIII, pp. 323, 324) was drafted and engraved at a very later stage it establishes the fact that Mandana shifted from Gujarat to Mewar. Further it was perhaps, but Kumbhakarna, who invited him. It is a well known patronised him as the state architect. It was he who is been entrusted with the task of designing and Kumbhalgadha (Udaipur Dist.) in V. S. 1515 appears to have constructed the temple of Visnu just adjacent to the famous Siva temple of Ekalingaji. It is interesting to note that a number of images and sculptures from Kumbhagadha dated V. S. 1515 and 1516 were carved according to strict literary injunctions propounded by in Mandan's celebrated work Rupamandana (R. C. Agrawala Sodha patrika, Hindi, Udaipur, VIII (3) pp-1-12, and IX (1). pp. 6 ff) 145. N. Y. Gosai., Rajavallabha (1911) XIV, 43 p. 239. fact that he said to have building the fort of (1448 A. D ). He 146. Auf. C. C. I, pp. 730-31. Several works of Mandana are collected in the Oriental Institute, Baroda. a. Popularly known as Rupavatara, This along with Rupamandana, edited by Upendramohan Sankhyatirtha is published in Calcutta San. Series. XII (1936).

272 2. Prasada Mandana. 3. Rajavallabha.< 4 Rupamandana d 5. Vastu-mandana. 6. Vastu-Sastra. 7. Vastu-sara.< 8. Ayatattva.f The Structural Temples of Gujarat 'Prasadamandana' is a brief treatise on temple architecture, outlining the procedure to be adopted, in the construction of temples for gods and goddesses. It consits of eight chapters or Adhyayas. The chapter I deals with preliminaries (Misraka laksana) to be followed in the architecture of temple; Ch. II tells about the mouldings of the base; III describes measurements of Pitha, Mandovara, Grabhagriha, Sakhas (door frames) and Udumbara (thresholds). Ch. IV. narrates the sizes of idols and their positions, flag staffs (Dhavja Danda) and Amalaka and Kalasa of b. Edited by: J. D. Zadoo and published in the Kashmir Sanskrit series of Texts and studies no. LXXII. 1947. Recently it is published by Bhagwandas Jain. (Jaipur) 1961. c. Published with Gujarati commentary and some illustrative diagrams by Narayan Bharati Yasavant Bharati Gosai of Patana in 1911. This work is also known as Vasturaja Vallabha. d. Vide f. n. a. above. Recently, the text with Hindi commentary edited by Dr. Balram Shrivastava is published from Benaras (1965) e. Available with Gujarati commentary. Published from Ahmedabad in 1878 A. D. It also deals with astrological matters concerning architecture. Auf. C. C. Pt. I. P. 569. f. This is a chapter dealing with astrological matter. Many of the Silpa texts contain it under slight different names. Silpa texts ascribed to Visvakarma Viz. Diparnava etc. also deals with the same subject matter. As a separate chapter it is known as Ayatattva. The subject matter of third chapter of Rajavallabha, titled as Ayadi-Laksana is the same. It is abudently available in a separate Ms. form.

Sources of Architectural Canons 273 the finials. Chapters Vedic Index & VII deal with the various types of the constructions of Sikhara (spire), Mandapa and Balanaka etc. The last chapter VIII deals with the conservation and repairs of the temples, institution of idols, installation of Vastu purusa and other architectural matters. The other works of Mandana mainly deal with the canons concerning the construction of residential houses, palaces, step-wells, lakes, fortification and image-making.