Samarangana-sutradhara
Encyclopedia
Samarangana Sutradhara is an encyclopedic work on classical Indian architecture (Vastu Shastra
) written by Paramara
King Bhoja
of Dhar
(1000-1055 AD).
In 83 chapters, subjects treated are town planning, house architecture, temple architecture and sculptural arts together with Mudra
s (the different hand poses and the poses of the body as well as the postures of legs), the canons of painting, and a chapter on the art of mechanical contrivances, the yantra
s (chapter 31).
This chapter on yantras has attracted the attention of many people looking for other things beyond mere science too Verses 95-100 mentions bird-shaped aerial cars (Vimana
s), and verses 101-107 mention a sort of robots acting as guards.
Here are some verses from Samarangana Sutradhara, which describes characteristics a "sthapati" i.e. architect (based on translation by Punya Mishra).
Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...
) written by Paramara
Paramara
Paramara is a Maratha, Gurjar,& Rajput clan of India.The Paramara clan belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs ancient Kshatriyas...
King Bhoja
Bhoja
Bhoja was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from about 1000 to 1050 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the Paramara dynasty...
of Dhar
Dhar
Dhār is located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dhar District. The town is located west of Mhow, above sea level...
(1000-1055 AD).
In 83 chapters, subjects treated are town planning, house architecture, temple architecture and sculptural arts together with Mudra
Mudra
A mudrā is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. While some mudrās involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers...
s (the different hand poses and the poses of the body as well as the postures of legs), the canons of painting, and a chapter on the art of mechanical contrivances, the yantra
Yantra
Yantra is the Sanskrit word for "instrument" or "machine". Much like the word "instrument" itself, it can stand for symbols, processes, automata, machinery or anything that has structure and organization, depending on context....
s (chapter 31).
This chapter on yantras has attracted the attention of many people looking for other things beyond mere science too Verses 95-100 mentions bird-shaped aerial cars (Vimana
Vimana
Vimāna is a word with several meanings ranging from temple or palace to mythological flying machines described in Sanskrit epics.-Etymology and usage:Sanskrit vi-māna literally means "measuring out, traversing" or "having been measured out"...
s), and verses 101-107 mention a sort of robots acting as guards.
Here are some verses from Samarangana Sutradhara, which describes characteristics a "sthapati" i.e. architect (based on translation by Punya Mishra).
- The architect should be well-versed in the science involving the significance of objects to be created and their specificationss. He should know the theory and the practice; he should have the insight and the skill accompanied with procedure.
- That person is said to be an expert in workmanship who knows how to sketch the ground plan, draftsmanship, the horizontal and vertical measurements, the details of ground work of the plot, the 14 kinds of sketch lines, the cutting of the logs and stones etc., and seven kinds of circular sections; well finished joinings of the joints and proper demarcation of upper, lower and outer lines.
- An sthapati should know eightfold workmanship, the draftsmanship and sketches of various kinds, and variety of carpentery, stone-masonry and gold-smithy. The engineer equipped with these merits invokes respect. One who knows the fourfold engineering with its eight constituents and who is pure in his mind gets status in the assembly of engineers, and is endowed with a long life.
Editions
- Sastri, T.G. (1924)
- Kumar, Pushpendra, Bhoja's Samarangana-Sutradhara : Vastushastra. 2 Vols, New Bharatiya Book Corporation (2004), ISBN 8187418923.
- Sharma, Sudarshan Kumar, Samarangana Sutradhara of Bhojadeva : An Ancient Treatise on Architecture, 2 Vols. (2007), ISBN 8171103022.
See also
- Other classical Indian Shilpa texts include are: Visnudharmottaram, Aparajitaprchchha, Abhilasitartha-Chintamani (or Manasollasa), Shilpa-ratna, Narada-silpa-shashtra and Kashyapa-shilpa.
- Vastu ShastraVastu ShastraVastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...