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Book details
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xx+472p., Plates; Figures; Notes; Glossary; Index; 29cm.
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Hardcover
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English language
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Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
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01.01.2005
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ISBN 10: 8120820525
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Silpa Prakasa: Medieval Orissan Sanskrit Text on Temple Architecture
Synopsis
The Silpa Prakasa is an important addition to the existing literature on Indian silpa texts." (V.S. Agrawala). This early text on Orissan Temple architecture (possibly from the 10 cent. A.D.) describes various temple types of Orissa, but especially a tantric temple termed Vimanamalini with its sub-types Padmagarbha and Kamagarbha. The latter could be identified with the 10 cent. Varahi Temple at Caurasi near Konarak. The text goes into great detail of 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 practising 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 palmleaf 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.
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