वास्तु मण्डन (मण्डन सूत्रधार - गृह, राजप्रासाद, दुर्ग एवं नगर-वास्तु सटीक)

INTRODUCTION xxi
of another chhandas for the aerial view of a construction. These are Meru, Khaṇḍameru,
Patākā, Sūci, Neṣṭa and Uddiṣṭta. Mostly palaces are of Māḍa type and they come
under Meru chhanda. Another peculiarity of these palaces is that most of the palaces
are either three and half or five and half or seven and half storied and the ground
plan of these palaces are either 8 x 8, 9 x 9 or 10 x 10 square as required.
Śrīdhara type of palace is five storied with sixteen pillars in the centre. The
projected part of the palace is two and half storied. While there are four pillars in
one part, there are four pillars each for all the four doors with lattice. Platforms
were fitted with glittering silver seats adorned with Mattavāraṇa (A.P. Ch. 87, Ś16-
17). Aparājitapṛcchā mentions of three chadyas adorned with platforms and bells,
which are the decoration of this palace.
The palace Pratāpavardhana has four doors in four directions. There the projected
part will be one third of the breadth of the palace and the front portico constitutes
another part. No other information on this type of palace are found in the book
whereas Aparājitapṛcchā describes the land to be twenty-five hands in measurement
with four pillars in the center, twelve more pillars on the alindas, totaling thirty-two
pillars in outside and inside. Māḍa type of construction is described to have two
stories and above going up to three and half stories.
The palace Lakṣmīvilāsa is found to be similar to Pratāpavardhana to certain
extent. Vāstumaṇḍana adds that out of ten pillars in the mukhabhadra, six will be
inside and four will be on the outside. Māḍa type of construction is done two
stories and above on bhadra and for a house it will be upto five and a half storey.
This type of palace is best suited for a king. Compared to this, Aparājitapṛcchā writes,
the Bhadra for Pratāpavardhana palace is divided into three parts breadth wise and
one of the part is regarded as mukhabhadra, which is adorned with ten pillars is
known as Lakṣmīvilāsa palace. Here the Māḍa is done above two storey can go unto
five and half storey.
For Śrīnivāvsa palace similar description was noticed in both the books. This
palace is having thirty-six pillars on twenty-five parts of the land. Wall will be equal
to one-tenth part of the construction in length and four doors are also erected.
Bhadra is divided into nine parts with three mukhabhadras in one part. This palace
will be three and half storied with hundred and four pillars. Māḍa type of
construction is done above three or five storeys.
Kṣīṇabhūṣaṇa type of palace is constructed on a square land measuring eight
by eight squares and the foundation is on the seventh segment. Partition wall will
be within half of the squares. There will be four doors and twenty-five small pillars.
bhadra is divided into three parts and three Pratibhadras will be raised on one part of
bhadra. The number of pillars in a bhadra may be four or five but total number of
pillars may vary from eighty to two hundred. Māḍa is constructed above three stories
in a bhadra and in a house it will be above sixth stories.