(v,6-7) Vāstu in the Āgamas and Tantras

Āgamas.

These are more technical than Purāṇas in the matters of architectural and sculptural presentations. Āgamas and Tantras in one tradition are the same and deal with mystical worship of Śiva and Śakti. In another tradition they form two classes of separate literature though allied in their devotion to Śaivism and Śāktism equally. Āgama contribution to Śilpaśāstra is more extensive and technical than that of the Purāṇas. Some of the Āgamas, as already remarked, to all intents and purposes are but architectural treatises. The Kāmika for instance, devotes 60 chapters out of a total of 75 to architecture and sculpture and Dr. Acharya remarks: ‘its treatment of the subjects can hardly be surpassed by that of an avowedly architectural treatise’. Preliminary matters are common to Āgamas and Purāṇas alike. ‘But, unlike the Purāṇas, there is in the Kāmikāgama a discussion of architectural matters under some very highly technical classifications, such as the styles, Nāgara, Drāviḍa, and Vesara; shapes, masculine, feminine, and neuter; Śuddha, Miśra, and Saṅkīrṇa, depending respectively on a single material, mixture of two materials, and the amalgamation of many materials; sañcita, Asañcita, and Apasañcita, otherwise known as Sthānaka, Āsana, and Śayana, which, in case of temples, depend oh the erect, sitting and reclining postures of the image. Another very technical matter referred to is ayādi formulas, so very important in selecting the right proportions.’

Like Kāmikāgama, other Āgamas like the Karṇāgama [Kāraṇāgama?], the Suprabhedāgama the Vaikhānasāgama and so many others also deal with this side-branch of religious ritual, the foundation and dedication of towns and temples.

Tantras.

This class of ancient literature is not studied yet. It is, nevertheless, a very vast subject promising far-reaching results, The list of 25 Tantras as referred to, in the Agni are already enlisted in the foregoing pages. Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra and Atrisaṃhitā are some of the notable works on. Tantra-culture intimately associated with religious architecture, the construction of the temples and the making of images etc. Dīpta-tantra, Mahānirvaṇa-tantra, Śāradā-tantra and a host of others are a tantric exposition on the matters intimately related to Śilpa.