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Art and Architecture
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There is also a description of a big theatre hall (Pekkhaghara-nandava) which was supported on many columns and was furnished with a terraced railing, gateways with architrave and Salabhañjikā figures. It was decorated with many other motifs and ornamental figures. At the centre of the theatre hall was a stage.
In the Nājādhamma Kaha is a description of the bedchamber of a queen which had an outer courtyard, an assembly hall polished and well set with pillars, endowed with statues (Sala-bhañjiyā), latticed windows, moon-stone at the foot of the stairways, projecting ledges, and a room upon the roof called Chandra-śālikā. Its interior was lined with paintings; the floor was inlaid with semi-precious stones and the ceiling had a canopy painted with designs of lotus flowers and creepers.
In a description of the palace of the Chakravarli king Mahā-Sudassana, some details of palace architecture arc found. Its height was equal to three Purusha measures, it had bricks of four kinds, pillars 84,000 in number, wooden planks of four colours, staircases, cross-bars, copings, rooms with beds of gold, silver, ivory and crystal; doors with palm trces on two sides, a double railing round the palace, a net work of jingling bells and several lotus-ponds provided with staircases and platforms.3
A Jataka gives a vivid account of the palace of the Afaha. Ummagga. It had big dimensions worthy of a royal palacc. There were gateways in the palace wall, one of which opened towards the city. On both sides of the long corridor of the palace wercone lundred niches for lamps closed and opened by mechanically operated shuttcrs. It was provided with hundreds of rooms. In cach room was laid a great couch overhung with a white parasol and a throne placed ncar the couch. The principal lall of this palace was decorated with ren motifs of divine character. There were also courtyards, one of which was known as the assembly Hall. The pillars and walls wer: decoraicd with a number of painicd motifs. 1. Raya Sü, 103, n. 164. 2. P. L. Vaidy's cition, para 208. 3. B aucassana Sutta, Digha .Vilya. 4. Ja, IV. p.31.
