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Sastra is the most difficult subject to understand at present among the technical subjects in Sanskrit. Sanskrit scholars have long neglected the study of the subject. Rarity of commentaries on the texts is a result of this neglect. But the art and craft have been followed by traditional craftsmen who are not well-versed in Sanskrit. The models of the art and practitioners thereof are to be found more in South India than in the North. The texts handed down by the tradition of craftsmen is badly mutilated and those texts have yet to be restored properly. Fortunately the text we have edited is very good as it has been restored by a commentator. But the identification of the technical terms has not been fully attempted by the commentator himself, as according to him they have to be learnt rather from traditional craftsmen than from Bhattarakas or scholars in Silpa
Sastras.
A systematic study of Silpa Sastra by modern scholars was begun by Mr. Ram Raj in 1834. He knew Sanskrit, Tamil, Mahārāṣtra and other Indian languages. He had the benefit of assistance from the traditional craftsmen available during his time. He devoted about 7 years to the study of the subject. With all that, he says he is still in doubt with regard to the details of the art and science of Silpa. Foreign scholars like Fergusson, Burgess, Havell & Brown have done good work on the subject. But they have dealt more with the analysis of existing models according to their own light than with the texts of Silpa Sastra. Mr. Acarya has attempted a translation of Manasara and has given drawings of the forms mentioned in the text, He has also compiled a Dictionary of the terms. But he has not studied the numerous existing models of Silpa in South India and his translation and Dictionary are marked by a large amount of uncertainty. Sthapatis and scholars have yet to come close together for a proper restoration of the texts handed down by practitioners and for identifying all the technical terms. Till that is done, the terms that are not
| SR No. | 010145 |
| Book Title | Vishwakarma Vastushastram |
| 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 |