The Architecture of the Hindus

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Ram Raz’s essay on Hindu architecture is a pioneering work based on the study of Hindu temple architecture as described in ancient texts on the subject. The clear and detailed description of the temple and its different components is marked by lucidity. From the qualities of an architect (silpi lakshanam) to the several measurements used in architecture, sculpture, etc., selection of the ground and connected matters, Ram Raz has hardly left any aspect untouched. Posthumously published, Ram Raz’s formidable work could be ranked as a classic. His comparison of Hindu architecture with the Greek, Egyptian or later European architecture shows his depth of understanding without being dogmatic. Forty-eight plates illustrate the different parts of the temple. These illustrations have added immensely to the usefulness of the work. The volume, first published in 1834, has long been out-of-print and is being re-issued with a new introduction. The work is of outstanding value not withstanding the change in perception due to new material and research.