________________
FINE ARTS
263
An analysis of these features reveals that after the innerstructure of the house was built the open space was filled up with bamboo reeds (vaṁsaga), the walls were built up (kadana), the bamboo reeds were painted (perhaps with a layer of mud) ( okampaņa ), the roof was thatched with darbha or such other coarse grasses (chāvana), the walls were painted probably with chunam ( levana ), doors large or small were made according to the size of the house ( duvara ), and the earth or floor was made even and clean (bhümikamma ).1 This made the construction of a house complete, still some more process was required to make it fit for residence. The forthcoming features were included amongst the less important ones, i. e. after the construction was over the house was dusted and cleaned (pamajjana ), washed with water, plastered with cowdung ( uvalevana ), strewn with flowers ( pupplovayāra padaņa ) and illuminated with lamps kept burning (divaga-pajjalana). Proper care was taken to make the house free from dampness, as it was believed that “dampness of the house leads to indigestion". 8
From the above account it may be seen that most of the portion of the house was built of wood, bamboo and reeds, although bricks and mud must have been used for the walls.* In case of the skandha or prakara which was the surrounding wall of a city, it has been specifically stated that it was constructed with bricks, mud and wood. It is interesting to find a similar account of Indian architecture given by Yuan Chwang when he says : “As to the construction of houses and enclosing walls, the country being low and moist, most of the city-walls are built of bricks, while walls of houses and enclosures are of wattled bamboo or wood. Their halls and terraced
1. NC. 2, p. 377, also p. 333. . 2. NO. 2, p. 334. 3. FranqhES HTTop stofa, atat imuut frafat-NC. 2, p. 37. 4. NC. 2, p. 439. 5. #215para Fhry :-NC. 3, p. 379.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
