Shilpa shastras
Encyclopedia
Shilpa Shastras is an umbrella term for numerous Hindu texts that describe manual arts, the standards for religious Hindu iconography
, prescribing among other things, the proportions of a sculptured figure, as well as rules of Hindu architecture.
Sixty-four such arts or crafts, sometimes called "external or practical arts", are traditionally enumerated, including carpentry, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry etc., besides sixty-four or "secret arts"' which include mostly "erotic arts" such as kissing, embracing, etc. (Monier-Williams s.v. ).
While the fields are related, Shilpa Shastras explicitly deal with sculpture - forming statues, icons, stone murals, etc. Vastu Shastra
are concerned primarily with building architecture - building houses, forts, temples, apartments, etc.
Hindu iconography
Over the millennia of its development Hinduism has adopted several iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions. The exact significance accorded to any of the icons varies with region, period and...
, prescribing among other things, the proportions of a sculptured figure, as well as rules of Hindu architecture.
Sixty-four such arts or crafts, sometimes called "external or practical arts", are traditionally enumerated, including carpentry, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry etc., besides sixty-four or "secret arts"' which include mostly "erotic arts" such as kissing, embracing, etc. (Monier-Williams s.v. ).
While the fields are related, Shilpa Shastras explicitly deal with sculpture - forming statues, icons, stone murals, etc. Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...
are concerned primarily with building architecture - building houses, forts, temples, apartments, etc.
Editions
- Brihat Shilpa Shastra, Ahmedabad (1931).
- Alice Boner (trans.), Shilpa Prakasha, Brill, Leyden (1966).
- Shilpa Shastra Manasara, Baroda (1925).
- Shilpa Shastra, Lahore (1928)
See also
- Hindu iconographyHindu iconographyOver the millennia of its development Hinduism has adopted several iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions. The exact significance accorded to any of the icons varies with region, period and...
- Vastu ShastraVastu ShastraVastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...
- MurtiMurtiIn Hinduism, a murti , or murthi, or vigraha or pratima typically refers to an image which expresses a Divine Spirit . Meaning literally "embodiment", a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped...
- Manasara Silpa Sathram
- TalamanaTalamanaTalamana is a traditional system of Indian iconometry based on the Shilpa Shastras which uses certain measurements and proportions in creating temple icons and images....
- Shilpa Shastras - India Art , Architecture, History and Culture Study Project