Silpa Prakasa: Medieval Orissan Sanskrit Text on Temple Architecture

by Alice Boner, Ramachandra Mahapatra Kaula Bhattaraka, Sadasiva Rath Sarma

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The Silpa Prakasa is an important addition to the existing literature on Indian silpa texts." (V.S. Agrawala). This early text on Orissan Temple architecture (possibly from the 10 cent. A.D.) describes various temple types of Orissa, but especially a tantric temple termed Vimanamalini with its sub-types Padmagarbha and Kamagarbha. The latter could be identified with the 10 cent. Varahi Temple at Caurasi near Konarak. The text goes into great detail of the architecture, the iconography and the symbolism of all the parts of the temple. Its unique contribution lies in the description of yantras or symbolic diagrams underlying the architecture as well as sculpture. The original author was not only a practising tantrika, but also an expert architect speaking from experience. The text was first discovered, edited and translated by Alice Boner with the help of Pandit Sadasiva Ratha Sarma of Puri, and published by Brill (Leiden) in 1966. The present edition is a completely revised version of text and translation, with new illustrations, on the basis of a palmleaf manuscript, with added indices. This edition will be extremely valuable for understanding not only the temple construction but the entire symbolism underlying the unique temples of Orissa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alice Boner

Alice Boner (1889-1981) studied painting and sculpture, and worked as a sculptor in France and Switzerland. During the thirties, she visited India and studied Indian religious and artistic traditions. In 1962 her magnificent work on Indian art entitled Principles of Composition in Hindu Sculpture was puhlished (2nd ed. Delhi 1990). Her other important works in collaboration with Pandit S.R. Sarma include : Silpaprakasa (Brill, Leiden, 1966) and New Light on the Sun Temple (with R.P. Das, Chaukhamba, Varanasi, 1972). She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich, and in 1974 she was awarded the Padmabhushan by the President of India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sadasiva Rath Sarma

Sadasiva Rath Sarma (died in 1989) was attached to the Jagannath Temple in Puri. A master of Indian traditional arts, he has been a collaborator of Dr. Alice Boner in her work on Orissan Silpasastra. He has been the recipient of Kalakosaratnakara from the Vidvatsadas of Kamakoti Pitha and was awarded Padmashri by the Government of India for his outstanding work in the field of the religious and artistic traditions of Orissa.