Method Of Grow Crooked Bamboos For Palanquin Beams

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text:

Book Title: Method of Grow Crooked Bamboos for Palanquin Beams (SIBIKA-VAKRAVAMSA-LAKSANAM) Author: K. V. Sarma Publisher: Z_Nahta_Bandhu_Abhinandan_Granth_012007.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/250213/1

This article, "SIBIKA-VAKRAVAMSA-LAKSANAM: A Method to Grow Crooked Bamboos for Palanquin Beams" by K. V. Sarma, discusses the historical significance and construction of the Sibika (palanquin), a popular mode of conveyance in India for royalty and the upper class, as well as its use in temple festivals to carry deity images.

Key Points:

• Historical Context of Sibika: The Sibika has been a significant mode of transport in India since ancient times. Its use is documented in architectural texts like the Mayamata and the Paddhati Isänasivagurudeva, which describe its various types and construction measurements.
• Basic Sibika Structure: The Viswakarma-vastui astra (commented on by Anantakṛpa Bhattaraka) provides a foundational description of the Sibika. It details a structure consisting of a box-like body (either enclosed with doors or open) supported by a long beam, typically made of bamboo or wood, that extends on both sides. This beam is carried on the shoulders of attendants.
• The Artistic Superiority of Curved Beams: While a horizontal beam is functional, the Sibika with an arched beam rising steeply over the box and slightly inclined ends is considered artistically superior.
• Challenges with Curved Beams: Obtaining naturally curved wooden beams of sufficient length and strength is difficult. Traditionally, curved bamboo beams were created by applying strong heat to green bamboo. However, this process often resulted in charring and damage to the bamboo.
• The Ingenious Solution: Growing Crooked Bamboos: The article highlights an "ingenious method" developed to overcome the limitations of bending dried bamboo. This method, described in the short text Sibika-vakravaṁ la-lakṣaṇam, focuses on growing bamboos with the necessary curves already incorporated.
• The Method: The core of this method involves driving appropriately curved iron structures onto the sides of young bamboo plants. These structures guide and shape the bamboo's growth, ensuring it develops the required bends and curves in the correct places and measures. The text also provides directions for controlling this controlled growth.
• Manuscript Details: The article is based on a manuscript titled Sibika-vakravaṁ la-lakṣaṇam. This manuscript is preserved in a single palm-leaf document (No. 1133) from the Palace Library, Trivandrum, now housed in the Kerala University Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library. It is written in Malayalam script across four folios and is described as well-preserved and largely free of errors.

In essence, the article introduces a specific, ancient Indian technique for cultivating bamboos that are naturally curved to meet the aesthetic and functional requirements of constructing elaborate palanquins, thus solving the practical difficulties of artificially bending seasoned bamboo.