Chapter 20 - The two-storeyed buildings (dvitala or dvibhūmi)

1. I shall now briefly describe the ornaments of the two-storeyed buildings [viz. dvitala or dvibhūmi].

2. The breadth and the height of the (two-storeyed) edifice should be as before.

3-8. From the plinth (upāna) to the small dome (stūpi) the height should be divided into twenty-eight parts: (of these) the height of the plinth (ādhāra) should be three parts, and that of the pillar sis parts; the height of the entablature should be four parts and (that of) the (second) pillar above five parts; above that, upon the entablature (mañca) of the (second) pillar, the height; of the platform (vedikā) should be one part; the height of the neck should be two parts and that of the spherical roof (śikhara) four parts; the height of the small dome (stūpi) above that should be made of three parts.

9-14. The height (from the plinth to the pinnacle) being divided into thirty-one parts, the base (masūraka) should be four-and-a-half parts; seven parts should be the height of the pillar, and half of that (i.e., three-and-a-half parts) the height of the entablature; the (second) base above that should be two-and-a-half parts, and the height of the small pillar four parts; half of that (i.e., two parts) should be the height of the entablature, and half of the latter (i.e., one part) the height of the small platform (vedikā); the height of the platform (vedi) should be twice that (i.e., two parts), and the height of the spherical roof (śikhara) four parts; the height of the small dome (stūpi) should be two parts; this is the second kind of two-storeyed buildings

15-17. Of the same (height of thirty-one parts) the (second) base above the edifice should be one part and a half; the small pillar above that should be five parts, and it (the roof) should be furnished with the side-tower (karṇa-harmya), etc., and the rest should be made as before; this is the third kind of two-storeyed buildings.

18-24. The height (from the plinth to the pinnacle) should be divided into sixteen parts, (of which) the (first) base (masūraka,) should be one part and a half; the height of the pillar should be three parts, and the entablature one part and a half; the (second) base above that should be one part, and the small pillar above that two parts; the height of the (second) entablature should be one part, and the (second) base (masūraka) above three-fourths of a part; the height of the small platform (vedikā) should be one-fourth of a part, and the height of the neck one and one-fourth parts; the height of the head (śiras) should be two parts and a half, and the height of the spherical roof (śikhara) one and one-fourth parts; the fourth kind of two-storeyed buildings is thus described.

24-26. Of the same (height of sixteen parts) the spherical roof is known to be the same; the projection (ālambana) should be made of one part and a half, and furnished with the beam (gopāna) and other ornaments; the rest should be made as said above; this is said to be the fifth kind of two-storeyed buildings.

27-33. Of the eleven parts of the height, the (first) base (masūraka) should be one part; the height of the pillar should be three parts, and that of the entablature one part; above that should be the (second) plinth, and equal to that should be the (second) base (masūraka); the height of the (second) pillar should be twice that, and the height of the entablature half of the latter; the height of the platform^[1] (vedi) should be equal to that, and the height of the neck one part; the height of the spherical roof (śikhara) should be two parts, and that of the small dome (stūpa) one part; the sixth kind of two-storeyed buildings is thus described.

33-41. The seventh kind will now be described: of the eleven parts of the height, the (first) base (masūraka,) should be one part; the height of the pillar should be two parts, and the entablature one part; above that, the (second) base (masūraka) of three-fourths part should be made solid; the height of the (second),pillar should be twice that, and the height of the (second) entablature half of the latter; above that the (third) pillar should be one and one fourth parts, and the height of the entablature half a part; the height of the plat-form (vedikā) should be one-fourth of a part, and the height of the neck twice that (i.e., half a part); the height of the spherical roof (śikhara) should be one part, and that of its finial (śikhā) half of that: the seventh kind of two-storeyed buildings is thus described; there should be three pillars and the side tower.

42-43. The height being divided into one part more (i.e., twelve parts), the pedestal should be made of one part at the bottom above the base; this is known as the eighth kind of two-storeyed buildings.

44. The projection to be measured in the rod (daṇḍa) measure-meat is described here.

45. The projection should be outside of the aforesaid breadth as well as all around.

46. The projection is known to be one, two, or three rods (daṇḍa).

47. Otherwise it should be one, two, or three cubits.

48-49. (Another) five varieties of projection should begin from three or four cubits and end at eleven or twelve cubits, the increment being by two cub[??? cubits?].

50-51. (Yet another) five sets of projection should begin from five or six cubits and be increased by two to thirteen or fourteen cubits.

52. It (the projection) should fittingly be made in (buildings of) the three types, namely, the smallest, the intermediate, and the largest (both) as regards size and volume.

53. Otherwise the projection may be equal to or half of the width of the building.

54. Of those divisions of the width, the pinnacles (kūṭa) should be made of one part each.

55. The width, of its chain (kārā) should be one-fourth, or half a part.

56. The width of the middle pavilion (madhyaśālā)^[2] should be two or three parts.

57-58. On the upper storey (i.e., attic) of an edifice should be arranged the (top) pillar and outside pinnacle, etc., or something like the side-tower, or (simply) the entablature together with (bare) interspace.

59-61. The diameter of the pillar on the second storey should be four or five aṅgulas; and that diameter of the (upper) pillar being divided into three, four, five, six, seven, or eight parts, the diameter at the upper portion (of the pillar) should be less by one of these parts.

62-63. At the top of the pavilion (on the attic) there should be two pillars on the exterior side, the interspace at the middle, and (the whole attic) decorated with vestibules, windows, pavilions, domes, and pillars, etc.

64. It (i.e., the edifies) should be ornamented at the bottom and at the top with arches, niches (nīḍa) and porticoes (bhadra).

65-66. It (the edifice) should be furnished with various basements and pillars, with various beams (gopāna) and decorated with small vestibules (nāsi).

67. Its special feature is its ante-chamher (with one or more closed sides) (ardhaśālā), and it is (also) furnished with a top pavilion.

68. At its upper part, up to the end of the entablature, it should be ornamented with vestibules.

69. The pinnacles (kūṭa) should be square and there should be vestibules (nāsikā) at the interspaces.

70. The projection of the middle portico (bhadra,) should be one, two, three, or four rods (daṇḍa of four cubits each).

71. There should be four pavilions (śālā), four pinnacles (kūṭa) and eight chains (hārā) with windows (pañjara).

72. The band (veśana) round the upper pinnacle, etc., should be one or hall a rod (daṇḍa).

73. At the two sides of the middle compartment, there should be the antechambers (ardhaśālā).

74. Above that at the middle should be a vestibule (nāsi) and at its sides should be the front vestibule (yaktra-nāsi).

75. At the sides of the two pavilions small vestibules should be constructed for decorative purposes.

76. The pinnacle, the compartment, and all other members should be tastefully ornamented.

77. The side towers should be constructed as directed above, and the rest should be made as before.

78. The (last two, namely, the) seventh and the eighth kinds of two-storeyed buildings will now be described in detail.

79. Their height should be two and a half times or thrice the breadth.

80. An additional pavilion (maṇḍapa) should be constructed in front of the front pavilion (maṇḍapa).

81. In these buildings the doors or windows should be constructed in the middle.

82. At the middle of the south should be a door and in. front of it should be the mid-pavilion (madhya-maṇḍapa).

83. They should be famished with four doors, and with staircases in front.

84. The floor should be solid all over and be decorated with pinnacles (kūṭa) and chambers (koṣṭha), etc.

85. The basement and plinth. (masūraka) should be furnished with pedestals.

86. Above that the pillar (pāda) and the entablature (mañca) should be furnished with three peacock’s tails patterns (barha).

87. The projection at the end of the edifice should be measured proportionally as (stated) before.

88-89. The height of its pillar should be divided into six parts; the circular wall in the interior above the entablature should be made of one part less (i.e., five parts).

90. It (i.e., the edifice) should be furnished with the side-tower (karṇa-harmya), etc., and be decorated with all ornaments.

91. The circumambulating staircases for ascending purposes should be beautifully constructed.

92. The rest should be made as before with images of all gods is the building.

93-95. Śrīkara, Vijaya, Siddha, Pauṣṭika, Kānti, Prabhūta, Svastika, and Puṣkala: these are the names of the eight edifices commencing with the first; the images of the aforesaid gods should be made is all these edifices.

96-98. Or, (to be clear), in the Viṣṇu temple, the image of the god Janārdana should be at the neck (gala) part in the east; in thesouth should be the image of Vāmana (dwarf Kṛṣṇa) or of Narasiṃha (man-lion); (the] image of) Keśeava is said to be in the west, and of Śrīdhara in the north.

99. Or the image of Brahmā (lit. grand-father) should be (generally) in the buildings of the Northern (Nāgara) and other styles.

100. The wise (architect) should carve the images of all the door-gods as before.

101-104. The images should be (made) likewise in the Śiva temple, especially in the (attacked) pavilion; the image of the god Kāla (death) is said to be in the north, and the images of Kṣetrapālas as well as of Kārtikeya (lit. six-faced) should be carved on the ascending steps at the base of the main edifice as also at the entrance of the side-tower (karna-harmya).

105. Images of gods should be made, as before, in all kinds of temples.

106. Any addition or omission should be in accordance with the directions of the science of architecture (śāstra) mentioned above.

107-110. The two-storeyed buildings should be (horizontally) square, round, octagonal, circular, or oval; and vertically (lit. in length) should be furnished with the head (dome) and the neck; and the ornaments, etc., should be as stated before.

111-114. By the end of the chain (hārā) should be the balcony made of one or two parts, the portion above the platform (mañca) should be covered, and there should be also the entablature; and for ascending the staircases should be constructed from the middle of the base of the buildings with, such parts (measurement) as would make them beautiful..

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The distribution (lines 9-14) does not make up the total.

[2]:

See note under lines 54-57, chapter XIX.