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ISSN 0975-4067

K I R A V A L
Journal of Sanskrit Research Foundation
The New Trivandrum Sanskrit Series
Vol.V. Book.I & II
January-June
2013
SANSKRIT RESEARCH FOUNDATION
T.C 39/37
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-36
K I R A V A L
Journal of Sanskrit Research Foundation
Editor
Dr.M. Manimohanan
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
dr.m.manimohanan@gmail.com
Executive Editor
Dr.C.S.Sasikumar
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
drsasikumarcs@yahoo.co.in
Managing Editor
Dr.G.Narayanan
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady
dr.g.narayanan@gmail.com
Editorial Board
Dr.V.Sisupalapanikkar,Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd.) Uty. of Kerala
Dr.R.Vijayakumar, Professor of Vyakarana, S.S.U.S.Kalady
Dr.K.Muthulakshmi, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.
Kalady
Dr.K.K.Sundaresan, Registrar, Kalamandalam
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.T.Devarajan, Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd), University of Kerala
Dr.P.Chithambaran, Rtd.Professor of Vedanta,S.S.U.S. Kalady
Dr.P.K.Dharmarajan, Professor of Sahitya, S.S.U.S. Kalady
Dr..S.Sobhana, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.Kalady
Dr.K.Sekharan, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Calicut
Associate Editor
Prof.R.Jinu
jichelnu@yahoo.co.in
Views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of the publishers
Contents
Ia Upaniad and Rmyaa Dr.V.Vasudevan- 7
Bhadrakalikalam- a Reminiscence of
Dhuli Chitra: A study Babu.K -15
Modern and Vedantic Views
on Mental Health Dr.H.Sylaja -38
Cultivation and related income
in the Arthastra Pushpadasan Kuniyil -44
Rmyaa Plays of
Bhsa Dr. N. Vijayamohanan Pillai - 49
The Creative Genius
in Sree Narayana Guru Dr.Asaletha.V -56
Eco Feminism Shamshad Begum.R - 62
Ajitamahtantra:
Treatise on Vstuvidya Soumya. K -70
Historical and Cultural Aspects Reflected In
Ashtamimahotsava Prabandha Krishnaveni -79
Influence of Buddhism in the Social Health
Environment of Kerala Soumya.c.s -84
-.... .|...... :...-. ...+ -
.... .....|.-...
.....-...... .|-.+-. :..-..|.-..+-..|
E&- Ehi M& .E .E -104
-.|.. :... -.+.... ..|- :.. |.. -.. |.-..+-..|
+ .-..-..||.. .......-. .|.. . -.|.
Ajitamahtantra: Treatise on
Vstuvidya
Soumya. K
Sanskrit is rich in secular literature. Technical sciences in
Sanskrit are generally embedded in the six Vedngas and the
Upavedas. Vstuvidya or Sthapatyaveda, the ancient Indian
architecture is taken to be an Upaveda of Atharvaveda. This branch
of ancient Indian science has got a rich literature including the
gamas.
gamas are the texts dealing with iva and akti worship. They
contain various subjects such as architecture and sculpture.
The twenty-eight aivgamas are the chief authority of the aiva
Siddhnta system. Their names and extent are mentioned in
different works though there is no unanimity among the names
mentioned. They are believed to have emanated from the five faces
of iva. They are: Kmika, Yogaja, Cintya, Kraa, Ajita. Dpta,
Skma, Sahasra, Amumat, Suprabheda, Vijay, Nihvsa,
Svyambhuva, gneya, Vrabhadra. Raurava, Mkua, Vimal,
Candrajna, Mukhabimba, Prodgita, Lalita, Siddha, Santana,
Sarvokta, Pramevara, Kiraa and Vtula.
In these aivgamas Ajitgama is the fifth one. When one traces
the transformation of the name Ajitamahtantra from Ajitgama
he will reach in the slogan the great Tantra of be
Kiraval 71
unconquered.(Introduction, Bhatt and Filliozat 19)
Ajitamahtantra provides a good and wide account of aiva
system of worship. A close reading of the treatise provides the
architecture and the system of worship of the aiva temples,
prevalent in this country. The text is of high importance because
of its authenticity, consistency and readability.
Content of Ajitamahtantra
The text of Ajitamahtantra used for the present study
comprises five volumes. The first volume contains eighteen
chapters offering a systematic account of the installation of Linga
worship from the carving of the Linga and the construction of the
temple to the great ceremony of installation of the deity.
The second volume gives details about daily worship the
festival and number of occasional rituals, information on the
substances preparatory rituals etc. The third volume talks about
iconography, additional chapters of architecture, and rituals of
installation of subsidiary deities. The fourth volume of the text is
dedicated to subsidiary rituals, occasional festivals and rites of
atonement of false and failures. This last portion will introduce
some later practices and features of religion, which may not belong
to the original period of redaction and some other subject which
are not touched in the previous parts. The fifth volume contains
the illustrations referred to in foot-notes of the translation.
Ajitamahtantra, a complete treatise on temple architecture, is
a monumental work among other gama works. The present work
is a comprehensive study of the Prsdalakaavidhi discussed
in Ajitamahtantra. In this the twelfth chapter is a description of
Prsdalakaavidhi. It declares the parts and different style of
Prsda with examples.
72 Kiraval
The construction of Prsda needs, first of all, a proper area.
Therefore the selection of site involves high importance in both
residential and temple architecture. In the Vstustra treatises,
the suitable and unsuitable place for the erection of temple has
been discussed. The sixth chapter of Ajitamahtantra deals with
the description of sites (-.|. -.). After giving a detailed account
of various steps like the rite of ploughing (+..|.|.:), the process
of worshiping the site spirit (... . -..|.|.), the process of installing
the gnomon (-. + ....|.|.:), the process of placing the first bricks
(v +.|.|.) and the rules concerning the temple base (-..|-|.|.),
the process of charecterising the temple (.....-..|.|.) has been
discussed in the twelfth Paala.
Measurements used in the construction of Prsda and icons
The characteristic trait of Prsda is determined on the basis
of the difference in measurements. For the making up of temples
the cryas adopt the measurements from the nature itself. In
Ajitamahtantra the crya describes the Hastaprama at first.
The crya declares that the basic unit of Prsda is Hastaprama.
The increasing order from the minute structure of the
measurements and the use of the measurement has been described
here in detail.
-.. .|-.. .. +. .... ..--....++(Bhatt and Filliozat
129, verse1)
According to the details given in this Paala, temples can be
measured only in cubits. The size of the cubits is defined as: the
light of the Sun enters through hole of a net or the particle of
dust which one can see only in atomic forms, eight of these lies
are called dust, eight of these point of a hair , eight of these
nit, eight of these louse, should be a barely seed(P 127).
Kiraval 73
.-..:..-....:.-... :. -... ..+
-....||...|. .|. .-.. -..-.|.++
.-.. ... -.. .:-.. .+
....-.. ..+.. -.. ..-. .+-. ++
.+ . ....:. .|-... . .+-. +
.+-. . .+.. ... .+.+. -... ++(verses 2-4)
A digit called Mngula is made by a grouping of eight barely
seeds. The digits given in this text are said to be made up of eight
or seven barely seeds. Three sorts of Mngula have been
mentioned in the current chapter. One can see that in the due
course the size of the cubit is explained with reference to
Mngula.
. . ..|-.. . .-..... .-. .. +
..|-. .|:-..- .. .. +.-.. .-. ++
-. |.|..-. | -..... .-.. .-.+
.. -.-... . +-. . .|.-+.++(verses 5-6)
The details of different sizes of cubits are also given in the
following verses. A unit which has been made of 24 of this
Mngula s is called Kiku-hasta. Another unit made of 25 digits
is called Prjpatya. When it is with 26, then one has another unit
called Dhanurmui. A unit of 27 Mngula s can be termed as
Dhanurgraha. Kiku measurement is used for the construction of
palanquin, throne etc. Prjpatya measurement is used for the
construction of temples and pavilions. For the construction of
palace, towns, tank and ponds Dhanurmui cubit is used.
Construction of rivers and roads needs Dhanurgraha cubits.
.. |.-. . . ..+. |++-. .|.|-.. +
..-.... :|. .. +. ..|.-.. .... ++
.:|.-.. .. -. | ..|.-...:.-+
74 Kiraval
|-.|a.+....|+ .. |++ -.... +...++(verse 7-8)
All the tools and equipments related to rituals and religious
practices should be made with Mtrgula. Different types of
Mtrgula can be seen in this Paala.
.... .+. ..-.. -....... . +
-.... .. . |.|.. .. .-..-. .. ++
.... |-.. -. -..-.. .|.-...+
... .. . . |... ..|. . |-..-.++(verses 11,12)
This charecterisation is given as: the size in length or in breadth
of the finger joint which is in the middle of the middle finger in
the right hand of the crya.
When one divides the height of an icon with the unit of Tlas
(a Tla contains twelve Agulas), the digit will be digit obtained
from the body ( -.a....-..(P 129). These digits are being
used in the construction of icons.
.|.-.... .-.. . ..... . -..|-..+
.. . -.. -.-. -.a.. .. -... ++
.|.-..... |.-... |.|..... -.. +(verse 13-14)
Tla is the standard measurement used in iconography. A Tla
length is equal to twelve Agulas. Agula, a finger, a finger
breadth, is a measure of about three-fourths of an inch; one of
some equal parts, into which an architectural or sculptural object
is divided for proportional measurement.
Ajitamahtantra talks about three kinds of temples: inferior,
medium and superior.
....|.|.. .. - +... -..-.... +
--.-.-..|. .-. :..| .-.. -... ++
(tr: Three types of temples are referred to. They are inferior,
medium and superior).
Kiraval 75
The text further describes the different temples which go by the
number 28.
|.+...-... ..
....... +.-...|.-.|..... ++(verse 1620)
Inner chamber
After discussing the size of Prsda the text provides knowledge
about the making of inner chamber (.-..--. and the placing of
the sanctum.
.-.|...-.... .-. . -.....
......-. |-.|-.. -..+ +(verses 21, 26)
One should make the sanctum only with reference to the
measures of the extent. When the extent of the temple is divided
in to sixteen parts by five cords, stretched five towards the east
and five towards the north, the sanctum is four squares in the
middle and the remaining area is told to be for the walls. When
twenty five squares are done with in which six cords stretched
towards the east and six towards the north, the sanctum is nine
parts in the middle. When forty nine square are made with eight
cords stretched towards the east and eight cords towards the north
the sanctum is seven half squares around nine squares in the middle.
The walls are made with the remaining area.
In the cases where Linga has already been installed, then the
sanctum should be constructed with reference to the size of Linga.
The breadth of the pedestal is prescribed as three times the breadth
of Linga. The sanctum should be three times the pedestal, the
wall equal to it. Another possibility is that the sanctum can be
constructed four times bigger than the pedestal. Then the walls of
the temple all around should have the same size of the half of the
sanctum.
76 Kiraval
.| .. |.. |.. .-.... .-.-... ++
|... |..... .|-.. |..|.. +
.|-|.. |.. .-. |-.|-. .|-.-.. -... ++
... ..-..-. . -...|-.. . .-. +
.-...-..... |-.|-.-..:.-. .-...++ (verses 25-27)
Pavilion
Construction of the pavilion or the -.. is described next.
:... -.. .....
.....-..|..-. ++ (verses 2831)
Pavilion should be of same size of the temple and is constructed
in front of the Sanctum. There will be nine kinds of pavilion and
among these varieties, one can be built in accordance with once
choice. An antechamber should be built of four, three, two or one
Daa between the temple and the pavilion (Daa here refers to
the pillars breadth). The temple and pavilion should be of the
same breadth. An alternative is that the breadth of the pavilion
can be that of the temple reduced by one fourth or one fifth.
The text also gives prominence to the beauty concept, as part
of the construction. It prescribes a projection of one and half a
Daa or one Daa, to be done either on the side or at the back
of the temple. Then the height of the temple (|.-.... . . is discussed.
In the case of inferior temples one should make a height of two
times the breadth; for the ten medium temples, a height of twelve
parts when the breadth has been divided by seven is prescribed. A
height of eleven parts when the breadth has been divided by seven
has been prescribed for the ten superior temples.
.-.... |.-......-.... .....
......... .-... .. +(P 134)
Kiraval 77
The height of the door also in discussed in this chapter. It is
prescribed as the distance from the Prati to the limit of the
architecture.
The text then also prescribes the height of the door, the
Adhina (wall-base), the Pda, (wall), the Prastara (entablature),
the Grva (neck), the ikhara (crest) and the Stpi (finial). The
details about the different levels of temples are also given in this
chapter.
The chapter also provides information about temples names
and ornamentation. According to the text there are three variations
of temple by the names Ngara, Drvia and Vesara.
....|.|.. .. +..|..-.|. +.. +(verse 60)
... :.|.: .. .. .|. ..-..++
The Ngara temples, which are said to be common in the
Pallava and Coa period, are a square from the ground level to the
finial. The octagonal from the neck to upwards is the characteristic
feature of the Drvia temples. The Vesara temples are generally
round from the neck upwards.
-..-..|.|... . ... ...+-. +
+-..-.|. .... :.|.: .|+||-... ++
+-..-. |. .-. ... ..-. +.. +(verses 6668)
Further varieties such as Saubhadra, Svastibandhana,
Sarvatomukha, Srvakrmika are also mentioned in this chapter.
.-.: .|.-... ..+. + .-.|..-. ++
...|+.. +.-..-.. ..-. +
..-.: -... .. +. ..-. ....|..-. ++
.. .... .. . |....-.|..-. +
.-..||.-|. ..|....-. .. ++
..... |... .. - .-... .-.|..-.(verse 68-71)
78 Kiraval
Thus the twelfth Paala of Ajitamahtantra deals
exclusively with the temple architecture.
In this way, the text is highly valuable and resourceful as far as
ancient Indian architectural system is concerned. Further studies
on these subjects need to be based on the possibilities of carrying
out effective dialogues with similar modern branches of learning.
Notes
1 Scholars have referred to 28 gamas, but there are variations in the
titles.
2 Three kinds of Agulas are described in Vstustra. They are
Mngula, Mtrgula and Dehalabdhgula.
Mngula: - This is the basic unit taken. It is the prescribed number
of Yava grains (8 Yavas).
Mtrgula: - This is the measurement taken by the middle finger of
the master who makes an image or building.
Dehalabdhgula: - This is the measurement equal to one of the
equal parts into which the whole height of a statue is divided for
sculptural measurement.
3 There is no reference to the existence of individual antechamber in
the early instances of Pallava and Cola temples. The pavilion is
generally much larger and longer than the temples though the
Clukya instances have antechambers.
Works Cited
Bhatt, N.R, and Jean Filliozat, eds. Ajitamahtantram = The
great tantra of Ajita Vol. I, Vol. I,. Trans. Pierre-Sylvain
Filliozat. New Delhi; Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for
the Arts/ ; Motilal Banarsidass, 2005. Print.

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