________________
Art and Architecture
323
across the doorleaves, a transverse bar, and also from outside by locking.
Different kinds of palaces (Kokanāda Pushpaka etc.) are inentioned as having different forms. Some were constructed with only one pillar (Ekathunakam) and such buildings were of the shape of round towers'. Palaces with many columns were not unknown. In one Jātaka, there is a mention of a palace with a thousand columns 3 Palaces were surrounded by various kinds of wall having gateways. Verandah or porticoes were attached to buildings and were called Alindaka. The term Uparipāsādatala, or the upper storey of a palace with a roof surmounted by a pinnacle called Kannika is an indication of the development that took place in the science and art of architecture. Many-storeyed palaces with many pinnacles are also mentioned in some of the tales.
There were lofty mansions for rich and well-to-do people, costly buildings with a large number of rooms and halls. The walls and pillars were profusely decorated, and the houses were provided with all kinds of comfort and luxury.
The Vinaya Texist gives us an idea of the common dwelling houses, which were made of stone, brick or wood, and had roof of five kinds—brick, stone, cement, straw and leaves. The walls and roof were plastered from within and without. The sleeping rooms were whitewashed, the floors were coloured in black, and the walls in red. They were overlaid with paintings and engravings such as human figures, and motifs such as wreaths and creepers. Provision was made for window's with shutters and curtains, elaborate doors with key-loles, verandahs covered terraces, inner verandahs and overhanging caves, dwelling rooms, retiring rooms, store-rooms, closets, and wells with lids under sheds made of hidc-skin. Hygienic arrangements were kept in view while constructing privics. The house had sometimes two or more storcy's, and it was fashionable to have verandahs supported on pillars with capitals in the form of heads of animals. 1. Jā. Nos 121, 451 and 465. 2. Ibid, No 465 3. Ibid, No. 543. + Sixth Khandhaka.
