Architecture of Manasara : Translated from Original Sanskrit - Manasara Series 4
by Prasanna Kumar Acharya

Contents:

•  Preface

1. The contents
2. The qualifications of architects and the system of measurement
3. The classification of architecture
4. The selection of site
5. The examination of soil
6. Erection of Gnomons (for Orientation of buildings) and pegs (for foundation)
7. The site plans
8. The sacrificial offerings
9. The village
10. The towns and forts
11. The dimensions of buildings
12. The foundation
13. The pedestals of columns
14. The bases of columns
15. The columns
16. The entablatures and roofs
17. Joinery
18. The general features of edifices
19. The one-storeyed buildings
20. The two-storeyed buildings
21. The three-storeyed buildings
22. The four-storeyed buildings
23. The five-storeyed buildings
24. The six-storeyed buildings
25. The seven-storeyed buildings
26. The eight storeyed buildings
27. The nine-storeyed buildings
28. The ten-storeyed buildings
29. The eleven-storeyed buildings
30. The twelve-storeyed buildings
31. The courts
32. The temples of attendant deities
33. The gate houses and the windows
34. The pavilions
35. The storeyed mansions
36. The situation and measurement of dwelling houses
37. The opening of the dwelling house
38. The doorways
39. The measurement of doors
40. The Royal Palaces
41. The Royal Entourage
42. The Royal orders and Ensignia
43. The cars and chariots
44. The couches, bedsteads, and swings
45. The thrones
46. The arches
47. The Central Theatre
48. The Ornamental tree
49. The crowns
50. The personal ornaments and house furniture
51. The triad
52. The Phalli
53. The altars
54. The female deities
55. The Jain images
56. The Buddhist images
57. The images of the sages
58. The images of the mythical beings
59. The images of the devotees
60. The goose
61. The Garuda image
62. The bull
63. The lion
64. The comparative measures of images
65. The largest ten tala measures
66. The intermediate ten tala measures
67. The measures along the plumb lines
68. The casting of idols in wax
69. The penalties for defective construction
70. The chiselling of the eye.
71. Index.

Prasanna Kumar Acharya's Architecture of Manasara is the fourth volume in the Manasara series. Here the Sanskrit text, collated from eleven manuscripts, is rendered in English with as much conformity to the original as possible. All aspects of architecture as taught and practised by the ancient builders, whose epics on stone in various parts of India can seen even today, are described in this book.

The remarkable attention to detail, which was the outstanding trait in the forgotten architects of the past emerges lucidly in this concise treatise, where every topic-be it the unit of measurement, choice of site, analysis of soil, strength of building materials, proportion among the various components, planning of villagers or towns, design and construction of single-storeyed houses or multi-storeyed mansions, furniture for use or sculpture for ornament-though presented in an encapsulated form rivers the reader's attention by its dazzling illumination.

One of the basic needs of man is shelter. All those interested or engaged in the designs of buildings for different puposes like housing the Gods, people, trade, transport, machines and weapons shall find this book a source of inspiration for their activities.