The present work has a special merit of its own. This Silpa-Sastra with its Oriya commentary is still consulted by the Silpins of orissa, where even now a large number of artists can be found. These artists posses numerous palm-leaf manuscripts which deal mainly with the Silpa principles. It is better to call it vastu Ssatra, because the book deals with the building of Houses, examination of land so on. The name Silpa-Sastra has been taken here in a general sense and used to denote the science of buildings also. It, therefore, falls in the same category with the works like Vastu Vidya and other works. It teaches us the science of Architecture. It seems that in ancient p[eriod there was vast mass of literature of Silpa-sastra but this branch of learning remained confined to artists, who made Silpa their profession. This Silpa Sastra is said to be written by Bauri Maharana, an inhabitant of orissa. We know very little about him. All the text of Silpa Sastra published so far belong mainly to South India, while this work belongs to Orissa and as such is the Silpa Sastra of Northern India. It has only five chapters consisting Sankrit slokas with Oriya tika. By the publication of this work, one book of Silpa Satara is beng added. I am sure that this will encourage the scholars in the study of Ancient Indian Architecture.
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