Structural Temples of Gujarat

SR No.: 006728
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kantilal F Sompura
Publisher: Gujarat University Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 868
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

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The Structural Temples of Gujarat Vastospatis rightly fits in the later development of Vāstu puruşa whose different limbs constituted the abodes of different deities as many as forty-five. Further Vastospati is identified with Taștr4 or Tvaşır, 5 the Divine Carpentar. Takşana is another word used in the sense of Carpentar in Rg. 8 and often later.? Tastr or Tvastr, the Divine Carpenter sharpened the thunderbolt of Indra, 8 and gave rise to the clan of Takşakas (carpenters ). Agastya, other wise called Māda 9 is considered to be the earliest authorities on Vastuvidyā i. e. architecture. He gave rise to two important traditions of Indian Architecture Mānā-Carya i. e. Architect and Sutragrāhina i.e. artisan. "Višvakarmā' is invoked as a creater of the universe as a whole, which fits in the concept of Viśvakarmā as the primordial planner and architect-creater. 10
The Vedic works contain numerous words used in the sense of different types of houses. The word 'gçha'11 is used 2. Rg. VII Su.-54-55. 3. The work named Vāstospatisūkta is available in MSS. form. (Auf. cat. Vol. II p. 134). 4. Rg. i, 61, 4,; 105, 8; 130, 4; iii, 38, i; vii 32, 20; x. 93. 12; 119. 5. cf. Nirukta. v. 21. 5. Altharvaveda. xii 3. 33; Bloomfield, Hymns of Altharvaveda, 651. 6. Rg. IX. 112. 1. 7. AV. X. 6, 3. Kathaka Samhitā, xii, 10; xviii, 13. Maitrāyani Samhitā, ii, 9, 5, Vājsaniya Samhitā, xvi, 27, xxx. 6 Satapatha Brāhmaṇa i, 1. 3, 12; iii 6, 4, 4, etc. 8. Rg. 1 32. 2. 9. Rg. VII. 33, 10 (Agastya), 13, (Māna) 10. Rg. x. 72. Winternitz, M. A history of Indian literature', pp. 78,100. 11. Rg. iii, 53,6 iv, 49, 6; viii, 10, 1; ii, 42, 3; V. 76, 4; X. 18, 12; 85, 26; 142, 4: 165, 2. AV. vii. 83, 1; X, 6, 4; i, 7, 4; iii 10, 11. vi. 137, 1; Aitareya Brahmaņa, viii, 21, ii 31, viii, 26. Vājasaneyi saṁhitā, ii, 32; iv, 33; xviii 44, Satapatha Brahmana i, 1. 2, 22: 6, I, 19 etc.