Vishwakarma Vastushastram

SR No.: 010145
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vasudev Shastri, N B Gadre
Publisher: S Gopalan Tanjor
Publication Year: 1958
Total Pages: 834
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 37 MB

Page 6

PREFACE
This publication is the first of a series of Sanskrit texts on Architecture and Sculpture. The Present text, "Viswakarma Vastusastram" is attributed to Viswakarma, the Architect of the Devas to whom the Architects, Sculptors, Artists and Artisans of our country trace their origin. We have a parallel text attributed to Maya, the Architect of Asuras. Whereas the text of Maya known as 'Mayamatam' is available in a single treatise, Viswakarma's treatise is available only in a series of manuals, more than a dozen in number. One or two of them have already been printed. The present treatises is the biggest of the manuals and it deals exhaustively with townplanning, the other topics being mentioned incidentally. We have in this work a rare feature, namely, a lucid commentary on the text by one Anantakriṣna Bhaṭṭaraka. This is probably the only text in Silpa Sastra for which a commentary is available. In addition to Viswakarma's and Maya's, we have other works on Silpa, namely, Kasyapiya of Kasyapa, Sakaladhikara of Agastya, Manasara, Aindram by Indra, Silparatma of Kumāra, Vimana Vidya of Parasara, Bhanumatapratisthatantra and several compilations of Moorti Dhyana from several sources, the Silpa portion of Saiva and Vaishnava Agamas, Purāpas, Arthasāstra and encyclope adic texts called Samhitas.
Some of them have been published and others remain to be edited and published. This publication will be followed by a number of other publications of texts on Sculpture which are now being edited.
Mention must be made in this connection of Major N. B. Gadre, Retired Director, Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission, a rare scholar who with singular zeal has done research in our ancient texts in