Book Title: Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1
Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay
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ANCIENT INDIAN PALACE ARCHITECTURE : 255
It is necessary to have a clear picture of the mediaeval literary description and surviving monuments in order to understand the description of palace architecture given by Bāņa in the Harşacarita and the Kadambari. The need for different component parts of palaces remain more or less the same leading to an identical planning to the component parts of the royal palaces, and this is the reason why there was so much similarity between the ancient Hindu palaces and the mediaeval Mughal palaces.
If we look carefully to the palaces of Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan, the Mughal forts of Delhi and Agra, we may discover the meaning of Bāna's description in several respects. The apparent reason is that the Mughals had inherited the older building traditions which they adopted in their palaces and at the same time introduced several features of their own. We may tabulate these common features between the palaces of Bāņa's time, the Mughal palaces and also the Tudor palace, named Hampton Court. It is not at all our intention to suggest that any one of them knew or copied the other, but the striking resemblance proves that the basis of their architectural planning was to cater to common needs. This comparative chart does render one service essential to our purpose, namely that it brings us to understand the evidence of Bāņa in a more clear and consistent manner.
Bāna's palace Mughal palaces
Hampton Court (7th cent.)
in old Delhi
palace (16-17) 1 The Skandhavára The extensive open
encampment in ground in front of the front of the Rajakula Red fort known as Urdu or palace, and the bazar.? market place in its Vipani-märga. The Moat and the The ditch & high wall Moat & bridge. Rampart (Parikhā) of the red fort.
(Präkāra). 3 Entrance to the Sadar-darvaja, the main The Great Gate
palace (Rajadvāra). entrance to the palace House.
7 Urdu was the word of a Turkish language meaning army. Later
on denoting an army encampment. Hindi Vardi (literary uniform) and English Horde are derived from it.
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