Shilparatna Part 1 - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Shilparatna Part 1," based on the given pages:

Book Title: Shilparatna Part 1 Author: Shreekumar K Sabhatsav Shastri (and potentially others involved in the publication) Publisher: Shreekumar K Sabhatsav Shastri Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/008431/1

Overall Scope:

The Shilparatna is a comprehensive treatise on architecture and iconography, divided into two parts. This summary focuses on Part 1, which, according to the preface, comprises 46 chapters and deals with the construction of houses, villages, and related subjects. Part 2 (not covered here) contains 35 chapters and focuses on iconography.

Key Themes and Content of Part 1 (as indicated by the table of contents and preface):

Architecture (Shilpa): The core of Part 1 is dedicated to the principles and practices of building various structures. This includes:
- Urban Planning and Village Layout: Chapters cover the planning and construction of villages, towns, cities, and capital cities, including their different types (e.g., Nagar, Khadvata, Durga, Pattana).
- House Construction: Detailed guidelines for building houses, including their elements, materials, and principles.
- Temple Architecture: Extensive coverage of temple construction, from the foundational aspects like land selection and site preparation to the various components and their proportions. This includes detailed descriptions of different types of temples (e.g., Nagara, Dravida, Vesara styles) and their sub-divisions.
- Structural Elements: Chapters detail various parts of buildings, such as foundations (Adhishthana), pillars (Stambha), walls (Bhitti), plinths (Upapitha), decorative moldings (Nala, Galala), cornices (Kapotas), windows (Jalaka), decorative niches (Kuta, Koshta), and ceilings (Uttara).
- Materials: The text discusses the selection and use of various building materials, including stone (Shila), bricks (Ishtaka), mortar (Sudha), wood (Daru), and earth (Mrittika). Specific chapters are dedicated to the properties and preparation of these materials.
- Measurement and Proportions (Mana): A significant portion of the text is dedicated to establishing accurate systems of measurement and proportion, crucial for architectural accuracy and aesthetic harmony. This includes detailed explanations of Mana (measurement units), Ayadi (principles of proportion), and the use of a unit system based on hand spans and fingers.
- Site Selection and Preparation: Chapters address the selection of auspicious land (Bhumilakshana), soil testing, direction determination (Dikpariccheda), and the foundational digging (Khatavidhi) and filling for construction.
- Decorative Elements: The text covers the ornamentation of buildings, including balconies (Panjara), cornices (Kapota), arches (Torana), decorative niches (Kuta, Koshta), and decorative panels (Chitra).
- Symbolic Placement: The text specifies the placement of deities and their associated elements within the architectural framework.
- Rituals and Auspiciousness: Procedures like Vastu Puja (worship of the site) and considerations for auspicious timings and directions are integrated into the construction process.
Author and Historical Context:
- The preface indicates that the work was compiled by Srīkumāra, who was well-versed in Silpa Vidya.
- The compilation was done from ancient Silpa and Agama works.
- The author lived during the period of King Devanārāyaṇa, who ruled a territory with his capital at Ambalappuzha (in present-day Travancore). This king was a patron of learning and had Narayana Bhatta in his court, who flourished in the latter part of the 16th century AD. This suggests the Shilparatna was likely composed around the same time.
- The preface also highlights the challenges in preparing the edition, relying on palm-leaf manuscripts that were full of errors. Efforts were made to obtain better copies and collate variant readings, with the help of experts like M. Paramesvaran Namburipad and his disciple Mr. R. Sankara Varyar.
Language and Style:
- The preface notes that the language, while not "elegant nor faultless," treats the subjects "thoroughly and systematically."
- The text is in Sanskrit.

Key Chapters and Their Contributions (based on the table of contents):

The table of contents outlines the progression of topics, starting from auspicious beginnings and moving into detailed architectural elements:

Mangalacharana & Grahasphuta: Auspicious invocations and astronomical calculations for determining planetary positions.
Prasadalakshana: General characteristics of buildings and temples.
Acharyalakshana & Manasadhanam: Qualities of the architect and systems of measurement.
Shantikaadi Tunganiyamah & Mahamasatunga: Rules for the height of structures, including specific classifications of building heights.
Alpa Prasadah & Prasaada Niyamah: Details on smaller buildings and general rules for temple construction.
Mahaprasada Bhedah & Padma Prasadah: Classification of major temples and specific details about the Padma Prasad style.
Prasada Bheda Anyathagramah: Various types of temples and alternative village layouts.
Padhadhisthana Vibhaga & Teṣām Vinyasa Bhedah: Division and arrangement of the base or pedestal, including details on garden ponds and wells.
Samanya Vidhi & Upapithonnati: General procedures and the elevation of the plinth.
Padmam Rajadhanyadi Bhedah: The lotus element and variations in capital cities.
Upapithavayava & Adhishthanam: Components of the plinth and the main foundation.
Vastupuja & Grâmâdi Dvara Vidhi: Worship of the site and rules for creating gates in villages.
Grâmadi Devalaya Niyamavidhi & Pratibandhani: Rules for placing temples in villages and restrictions.
Vimana Karane Khatavidhih: The procedure of excavation for building Vimanas (temple superstructures).
Dik Paricchedah: Determination of directions.
Garbhanyasa: The ritual of placing the foundation stone or core.
Vastu Marmavidhanam: The science of identifying and avoiding vital points in architecture.
Prasadaadikaraṇe Dravya Vidhi: The procedure for constructing temples and the types of materials used.
Alankara & Shilalakshana: Ornaments and the characteristics of stone.
Mushtibandha & Kutakoshthadiṣvadhishthana Niyamah: Details on hand gestures and rules for foundations in niches.
Nalalakshanam & Bhitti Vedika Stambha Lakshanam: Characteristics of moldings, walls, platforms, and pillars.
Dvarani & Sopanam: Gates and staircases.
Torani & Malani: Arches and string courses.
Jalakam & Kutakoshthadi Panjarani: Windows and the components of niches and enclosures.
Vrittasphutitakam & Kumbhalata: Circular decorative elements and creeper-like motifs.
Uttarani & Prastaram: Upper decorative elements and stone slabs.
Galalakshanam & Shikharam: Cornices and spires.
Lupalakshanam & Murhishṭaka Vidhim: Decorative eaves and the placement of the crowning bricks.
Nasikalakshanam & Stuipika & Shantikaadikam: Decorative nasal motifs, finials, and rules for auspiciousness.
Vrittashtashradisprasada Lakshanam & Mandapam: Characteristics of circular, octagonal, and hexagonal temples, and pavilions.
Mukhamandapam & Archanamandapaha & Adhivasa Mandapaha & Natya Mandapaha: Different types of mandapas (halls) like entrance, worship, abode, and dance halls.
Prakaraha & Gopuram: Ramparts and gateways.
Parivaravidhanam & Balipithalakshanam & Dhvajalakshanam & Sandhih: Arrangement of subsidiary shrines, altar for offerings, flagpoles, and rules for joining different elements.
Chitralakshanam: The art of painting and its application in architecture.

This summary highlights the extensive and systematic nature of the Shilparatna Part 1, providing a deep dive into the practical and aesthetic principles of ancient Indian architecture and construction.