Glimpses of Ancient Indian Architecture

The "Glimpses of Ancient Indian Architecture" is a recent addition to the works on Silpa-siistra which may be designated as the literature on Oriental architecture. Research works on this Science, also called viistuvidyii, even ten years back, were confined within a very limited area of early Indian architectural literature. The Bhowmik couple deserves thanks for presenting us with some interesting and at the same time informative essays on Silpaiiistra in a book-form by which even modern architects would gather food for enhancing their professional excellence. The treatise deals, in 10 chapters, with some valuable topics casting thereby enough light on selective cultural aspects of our bygone days. Though small in size, this book has covered some worthwhile information including the environment of a hospital, the treatise entitled uastumandanz, the topics like oastupadauinsasa, sala- houses, astronomy related to the construction of a house, ete. and in all these cases Sanskrit sources have primarily been consulted. A good number of points on the temple-construction have been taken up in such a way that general readers will have an idea of our past heritage associated with temple-architecture. The articles are mostly based on the Sanskrit Silpfrworks like Brhatsamhitii, Miinasiira, Samariin~ siitradhiira, Malamat~ ~~.ffl'aanfi the Puranic chapters on architecture. To corroborate their views, Mr and Mrs Bhowmik were always in touch with the writings of the celebrated scholars, such as, P. K. Acharya, D. N. Shukla, Stella Kramrisch and others, but the Bhowmiks have never sacrificed their original thinking. Hope the book will receive appreciation from persons concerned.