Detailed descriptions of different types of theatres, depending on their shape and dimensions, are given in the second chapter of the Natyasastra, the famous treatise on dramaturgy, by the venerable sage Bharata. This chapter deals with the construction of theatres and obviously some technical terms are used while describing it. It may be observed that interpretations regarding dimensions, divisions, arrangements of columns etc. of theatres of different types, as well as the technical terms used, as given by most of the scholars, particularly the modern ones, are not correct, probably because of their lack of knowledge of engineering. The author has given his opinions on different aspects of theatre building based on the information given in the treatises of Silpasastra, written in Sanskrit, like the Samarangana Sutradhara, the Prasada Mandana, the Rajavallabha etc. In the introduction of this book comments by different scholars, from Abhinava Gupta to the modern scholars, like Ketkar, Raghavan, Subba Rao, Visvesvara Siddhanta Siromani etc., on different aspects of the theatre as described by Bharata, are discussed. Opinions of the author, based on the study of treatises of Silpasastra, on these aspects are also given. A translation of the second chapter of the Natyasastra is given. At the end, literature in Sanskrit, available on this subject, is appended.
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