Architectural Engineering and Iconography in Vaisnava and Saiva Agamas

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Late Dr.R.P.Kulakarni (1934-2002) was a civil engineer by profession. He was awarded M.Tech. (Hons) in Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering by IIT, New Delhi. He published more than 80 research papers on engineering and related subjects in various reputed journals. He was awarded 2 gold medals and prizes for some of his excellent papers. Dr. Kulkarni was interested in the study of Indian Silpasastra. He had translated few treaties in Sanskrit into English and Marathi and published twelve books covering the subjects of Indian Silpasastra, Vedic Geometry, and Indian Theatre etc. He was an ardent student of Indian Architecture, Shulbasutras, Sanskrit, engineering, Technology etc.

Dr. Prabhakar P. Apte, (born 1933) M.A. Ph.D. LL.M. started his career as an Advocate in Maharashtra High Court. Later he worked as an Editor in the Sanskrit Dictionary on Historical Principles, Deccan College, and Pune. He was a visiting Professor at various Sanskrit organizations such as Sanskrit Department, Madras University, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melukote, Anantacharya Research Institute, Mumbai His areas of specialization are-Agama Shastra, Vastu Shastra, Lexicography, Franco-Hindu Jurisprudence, Hindu Matrimonial Jurisprudence in global context etc. He made significant contributions to the understanding of classical Pancharatra Samhitas by translating into English the Satvata, Paushkara and Jayakhya Samhitas.

It gives me immense pleasure to offer this special volume on "Architectural Engineering and Iconography in Vaishnava and Saiva Agamas" As it has evidently been revealed from the incessant scholarly pursuits and studies of modem researchers through ages-Architecture or the science of planning, designing and constructing buildings is one of the subjects of popular interest among the Ancient Indian Knowledge Systems. It includes subjects like planning and constructing individual dwelling units, temples, villages, towns, cities etc.

The present volume concentrates on giving an exhaustive knowledge stream related to the Ancient Indian Temple Architecture. The main source is taken from the treatises on Agama Temple architecture is a systematically developed knowledge discipline with several centuries of practical application. The present volume consists of 18 chapters. Interestingly while dealing with this section on Architecture, in all the Agama Texts, the first aspect concentrated up on was on Mensuration. The next chapter deals with the methods of soil testing and site selection in the process of which the colour, taste, smell, touch of the soil and the sounds heard from the layers of the ground play a major role. The next chapter gives a detailed information on the classification of the stones and their specific uses. In the subsequent chapters, classification and specific uses of various kinds of wood, various kinds of materials recommended for temple construction, geometrical drawings required for designing, different prescribed Vastu padamandalas, the process of the foundation of a temple, basement development, raising of pillars, stages of structuring the temple at various levels and all other related methods are elaborately narrated. Contextually information related to different types of temples also given in detail. Incidentally the town planning methods as found in the Agama texts are also broadly introduced.

**Contents and Sample Pages**