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The Silparatna was compiled from ancient Silpa and Agama works by Srīkumāra of Kerala, well-versed in SilpaVidyā, as is evident from the following verse:
"ब्राह्म क्षानं च तेजोऽप्यहमहमिकया वर्णिते यत्र धीरे
तस्य श्रीदेवनारायणधरणिपतेराज्ञयाज्ञाकरोऽहम् । सन्दोऽप्यत्यन्तमोहादतिविपुलतरेभ्योऽथ पूर्वागमेभ्यः । संक्षिप्तं शिल्परखं प्रलिखितुमधुना प्रक्रमे तत्क्रमेण ॥"
(Silparatna chapter I, Sloka 6). The king Devanārāyaṇa referred to in the above verse is said to have ruled over a territory with his capital at Ambalappuzha now within the State of Travancore. He was a great patron of learning and entertained in his court the famous Narāyana Bhatta, a great poet and. Vaiyākarana and author of Prakriyāsarvasva, Nārāyaniya and many other works, and is known to have fourished in the latter part of the 16th century A. D. It is therefore certain that the author of the Silparatna, a protegee of, his, also lived in the same period
Trivandrum, 16th June 1922. Š
T: GANAPATI SASTRI.
