Encyclopaedia of Indian Architecture: Hindu, Buddhist, Jain & Islamic: Hindu

by K.M. Suresh (Ed.) and D.P. Sharma (Ed.) and Dulari Qureshi (Ed.) and B. L. Nagarch (Ed.)

This volume of the book entitled 'Encyclopaedia of Indian Architecture' is devoted to the study of Hindu architecture. It has fourty-six chapters. The Chapters in this volume deal with the origin of architecture in India, the architecture of Rgvedic period, the architecture in the later Vedas and Brahmanas, the Vastuvidya in Sutra literature, the settlement patterns, urban planning and architecture of Harappans, the residential architecture of Harappans, the architecture in the age of Ramayana, the architecture in the Mahabharata, the architecture in Kautilya's Arthasastra, the earliest writers of the Vastusastra, the development of Vastuvidya from first to sixth century A.D. and onwards, the various orders of Indian architecture, the relation of Manasara with other treatises on Indian architecture, two principles of Vastusastra, the door in Indian architecture, the bricks in the vastusastra, the origins of temples and the assimilation of Aryan and Non-Aryan cultures in the Vastusastras.

The other chapters deal with the origin of stone architecture in India, various phases of Indian architecture, mauryan dynasty and the foundations of the Indian architecture, fergusson's classifications of style, the Visnu and Siva shrines, evolution of the temples, The great temples of Elephanta the Early Chalukyan architecture, the architectural style of Chalukyans, the Dravidian style, its genesis, under the Pallavas, the temples of Cholas, the Dravidian style under the Pandyas, the Architecture of the temples of deccan, orissan temples, Khajuraho, Rajputana and central India, temples of Gujarat and West, the Dravidian style under the Vijayanagara dynasty, the kakatiya temples, Lepaksi temple, the architectural style of the temples of Madura, the temples of Gwalior, the town of Brindavan, and the mythological beliefs in city-planning.

In short the volume is very much important for the study of Hindu architecture in India.

About the Authors:

Dr. K.M. Suresh (B. 1952) presently working as Director (Museum) in the Kannada University, Hampi, Vidyaranya-583276, in Karnataka, obtained his Master's Degree from Karnataka University, Dharwar in 1974 and P.G. Diploma in Archaeology, from Institute of Achaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. In 1986. He obtained Ph.D., Degree from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, in 1992 on "Sculptural Art of Hampi-Vijayanagara". Since his inception in the Arachaeological Survey of India from 1976 to 1996, he served in various capacities in the Archaeological Museum at Bijapur, Hampi, Aihole and Badami in Karnataka and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. He has been active field worker and excavator in the Excavation Branch IV or Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubneswar in Orissa. Dr. Suresh's other works are Sculptural art of Hampi-Vijayanagara; Saivite Sculptures of Khajuraho; Iconography of Vishnu from Khajuraho; Kandariya Mahadeva temple at Khajuraho; Karnataka Devalaya Kosha: Bellary District; Karnataka Devalaya Kosha: Koppal District; Hemakuta: Recent Researches in Archaeology and Museology (Shri C.T.M. Kotraiah's Felicitation Volume). Forthcoming works are Temples of Karnataka (Ground Plans and Elevation); Forts of Vijayanagara; Panchatantra; Facet Researched in Archaeology, (Dr. C.S. Patil's Commemoration Volume). He has contri-buted several research papers for leading Journals and Felicitation Volumes. He is member for many academic societies and a guide to Ph.D., scholars in the Kannada University, Hampi.

Deo Prakash Sharma is an Art Historian, Museologist and field Archaeologist participated in the excavations at Pangoraria, Mansar, Narmada Valley, Bhimbetka Chopani - Mando, Mehagarha, Koldihwa, Mahadaha, Sringaverpura and Bharadvaj Ashram. Besides, he did extensive exploration in the districts of Fatehpur, Pratapgarh and Allahabad in U.P. and in Sehor District in Madhya Pradesh. Anopther significant contribution of the author is the discovery of Menander (Posthumous) Brahmi inscription from Reh. During 1983-84 he was awarded Commonwealth scholarship and he meritoriously qualified M.A. (Archaeology) with specialization in Palaeolithic Archaeology of the world and Pre-history of South East Asia and Australia from the Institute of Archaeology, London. He participated in the excavations at Sussex under the team of Archaeologists of Institute of Archaeology, London and at Pincentvetn (France) under Prof. Gaurhan and Mark Newcomer, both world famous Rock-art specialist. In 1985 he joined as Dy. Keeper, Pre-History and Archaeology at National Museum, New Delhi. In 1993 he was promoted as Keeper Education in National Museum. At present he is the Head of the Harappan, Pre and Proto-history and Early Archaeology collection at National Museum, New Delhi. The author has published 122 papers and ten books of which a few are listed here, Early Buddhist Metal Images of South Asia; Indus script on its way to Decipherment; Harappan Seals, Sealings and Copper Tables; Harappan Art Vol. I; Harappan Terracottas; Harappan Jewellery; Pre-historic Indian and South East Asia (Press) and Harappan Archaeology (Press) and Archaeology of Lower doab.

Dr. Dulari Qureshi is on a curatorial port in the History Museum of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. She is a multi-faceted personality who has done immense work in the field of Art, Culture and History. She is also a writer and journalist and contributed more than hundred articles in both national and regional newspapers. She has authored two books, one titled, "Ajanta Paintings Sculpture and Architecture," and the second, "Stone Sculptures in the History Museum". One of her significant contribution is the discovery of inscriptions at Pitalkhora near Aurangabad. Dr. Dulari Qureshi, is also teaching post-graduate students of Tourism, in the Department of Tourism Administration in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar University. She is the member of the Tourist Advisory Board formed by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in Aurangabad. She is also a member of Aurangabad Beautification Committee and a member of Museaum Committee formed by the Municipal Corporation of Aurangabad. She is on the editorial board of 'Art and Glamour' a magazine on Art, Culture, History and Tourism, published from Aurangabad. Dr. Dulart Qureshi has also done her Bachelor in Journalism and is on the teaching faculty for Diploma and degree courses in Journalism. She is also a faculty member in services preparatory Institute established by the Government off Maharashtra to prepare students for UPSC examination for selection to the National Defence Academy.

Dr. B. L. Nagarch, born on 10th April 1937 at Datra (M.P.), is an eminent scholar of archeology, art, architecture and culture. He retired as Director in 1995 from the Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi, where he served in various capacities from 1961 onwards. Dr. Nagarch took his Master of Arts degree in Sanskrit from University of Sagar, Sagar (M.P.) in 1960 and his Post Graduate Diploma in archeology from the Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi in 1971 by the university of Sagar, Sagar fro his thesis entitled 'The Development of Sanskrit Drama in Eighteenth century,. Dr. Nagarch also served as a member of expert committee for the physical verification of Sanskrit manuscripts in National Museum, New Delhi from 2000 to 2003.