Silpa Prakasa by Ramacandra Mahapatra Kaula Bhattaraka: Medieval Orissan Sanskrit Text on Temple Architecture
Baumer, Bettina; Das Rajendra Prasad & Das, Sadananda (Eds.)
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PRODUCT DETAILS
Book ID : 27868
ISBN-10 : 81-208-2052-5 / 8120820525
ISBN-13 : 978-81-208-2052-4 / 9788120820524
Place
of Publication :
Delhi
Year
of Publication :
2005
Edition :
Language :
xix, 471p., 74 B/W Illus., Figs., Bib., Gloss., Index, 25 cm. (Kalamulasastra Series No. 52)
CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION
The Silpa Prakasa is an important addition to the existing literature on Indian Silpa texts. This early text on Orissan Temple architecture (possibly from the 10th cent. A.D.) describes various temple types of Orissa, especially a tantric temple termed Vimanamalini with its sub-types Padmagarbha and Kamagarbha. The latter could be identified with the 10th cent. Varahi temple at Caurasi near Konarak. The text goes into great detail o the architecture, the iconography and the symbolism of all the parts of the temple. Its unique contribution lies in the description of yantras or symbolic diagrams underlying the architecture as well as sculpture. The original author was not only a practicing tantrika, but also an expert architect speaking from experience. The text was first discovered, edited and translated by Alice Boner with the help of Pandit Sadasiva Ratha Sarma of Puri, and published by Brill (leiden) in 1966. the present edition is a completely revised version of text and translation, with new illustrations, on the basis of a palm leaf manuscript, with added Indices. This edition will be extremely valuable for understanding not only the temple construction but the entire symbolism underlying the unique temples of Orissa.
