Samarangana-sutradhara (Summary)
by D. N. Shukla | 1960 | 15,592 words | ISBN-10: 8121506115 | ISBN-13: 9788121506113
This page describes Offerings (Balidana) which is chapter 20 English summary of the Samarangana-Sutradhara by Bhoja. This work in Sanskrit representing a voluminous treatise on Vastu-Shastra (the science of Architecture), encompassing a broad range of subjects, such as Architecture, Shilpa-shastra (Iconography, Arts and Crafts) but also deals with Creation-theory, Geography, Philosophu, etc.
Chapter 20 - Offerings (Balidāna)
[Note: This chapter corresponds to Chapter 36 of the original Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra]
This chapter is also related to the theology of architectural planning. A good part of the offering consists of the most delicious edibles like milk, honey, curd, etc. etc. and is prescribed for all the deities connected with the site-plans and also to the Founder architect, the celebrated heavenly architect Viśvakarmā, All are to be conceived in a Central circle of the site with a Kalaśa full of flowers and gold. From the architectural point of view it may be noted here as enjoined in the end of the chapter that any architectural undertaking must proceed with the Vāstupūjā. The details are of non-architectural interest.