From the
Publisher
The present work has a special merit of its own. This
Silpa-Sastra with it Oriya commentary is still consulted by
the Silpins of Orissa, where even now a large number of
artists cab be found. These artists possess numerous palm-leaf
manuscripts which deal mainly with the Silpa principles.
It is better to call it Vastu Sastra, because the book
deals with the building of Houses, examination of land and so
on. The name Silpa-Sastra has been taken here in a general
sense and used to denote the science of building also. It,
therefore, falls in the same category with the works like
Vastu Vidya and other works. It teaches us the science of
Architecture.
It seems that in ancient period there was vast mass of
literature of Silpa-Sastra but this branch of learning
remained confined to artists, who made Silpa their profession.
This Silpa Sastra is said to be written by Bauri Maharana, an
inhabitant of Orissa. We know very little about him. All the
texts of Silpa Sastra published so far belong mainly to South
India, while this work belongs to Orissa and as such is the
Silpa-Sastra of Northern India. It has only five chapters
consisting Sanskrit Slokas with Oriya tika. By the publication
of this work, one book of Silpa Sastra is being added. I am
sure that this will encourage the scholars in the study of
ancient Indian Architecture.
Author's Description
Prof. Pushpendra Kumar has retired from the
University of Delhi-Sanskrit Deptt. After serving it for more
than forty years. He served this Deptt. As lecturer. Reader
and Professor and Head of the Deptt. More than 25 books are
highlighting his acadmic merit. He has written more than
seventy research articles. He has traveled widely in the
European Universities for higher studies and lectures. Besides
many honours and awards. He has been honoured by the
'Certificate of Honour' by the President of India in the year
2000 for his meritorious service for Sanskrit and for his
scholar-ship. He specializes in the Puranas, Tantras,
Buddhism, Indian Art, Epigraphy, Sanskrit Literature and
Aesthetics. He is presently working on a major project
'Cultural Heritage from the Puranas' in ten Volumes. During
the year 2004 four book have been published.
Contents
| Chapter |
|
|
| 1 |
Introduction |
i |
| 2 |
First Chapter |
1 |
| 3 |
Second Chapter |
14 |
| 4 |
Third Chapter |
21 |
| 5 |
Fourth Chapter |
25 |
| 6 |
Fifth Chapter |
29 |
| 7 |
Appendix |
32 |
| 8 |
Index |
35 |
