Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 407

382 STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA (Ch. VI Sleşanābandha and Samuccaya-bandha'. The first one is caused by the flaccid substances like those of peak (kūta), floor inlaid with jewel (maņibhūmika), pillar (stambha), palace (prāsāda), etc., with lime, mud, hard-besmearing (vajralepa), lacs, wax, gum and other flaccid substances. The second one is that binding which is made by the collection of the same materials in the cases of the construction of well, tanks, temples, council houses, stūpas, walls, buildings, gates, doors, palaces, sheltering houses, shops, market, esplanade, crossway of roads, etc."
The Rājapraśniya Sūtra® gives some ideas about the architectural development of its period by describing the different parts of the Vimāna of Sūryābhadeva. This building was surrounded by a rampart (pāgāra), embellished with beautiful cornices (kavisīsaga). Its gates (dāra) with cupola (thūbhiya) were adorned with the images of wolf (ihāmigal, bull (usabha) horse with a man's head, crocodile (magara), bird, oinaga), serpent (vaingan), kennara (a mythical being having a human body and a head of a horse), deer (rurx) sarabha (a species of wild animals), yak (camara', Elephant (lufjara), creeper (vaņalayā) and lotus creeper.
Their capitals (veiyā) were beautified with the figure of a pair of the vidyādharas (a kind of supernatural being possessed of magical powers); the doors were fitted with landings (nimma), pedestal (paitthāņa), pillars (Khambha), thresholds (eluyā), bolts (indakīla), door-posts (ceda), lintels (uttaranga), small door bolts (suz), joints (sandhi), sockets (samuggayal, wooden cross bolt pin (aggalā), sockets for wooden pin (aggalapāsāya), hinges (āvattaņa. pedhiyā), and left wings (uttarapāsaga).
Besides, there is the mention of closely fitted heavy doors, (nirantariyaghaņakavādā), having globular bases (bhittiguliyā) and cushions (gomānasiyā) in their panels (bhitti). The doors were adorned with the carved figures of sālabhanjika: in various sportive postures and were provided with pinnacles (kūļa), elevation (usseha), the tops (ulloya), lattices (bhoma), pinions
? 16, 8, 9, 347.
1 BhS, 8, 9, 347. 9 Rājaprafniya Sutra, 97f.