The Master may Wander into Servanthood: The King and his Architect

Abstract

Sanskrit building literature offers a thorough presentation of the complex planning, building and ritual that goes into a construction. Among the factors considered by these building manuals is the choice of the architect. In greater or lesser depth, they list the qualifications and qualities to be looked for in an architect so that all will go well, and a few of them go on to address what can go wrong. The paper will follow four texts that examine the architect: the Devyāmata, Samāraṅgaṇasūtradhāra, Aparājitapṛcchā, and Mayamata. The focus will be on the watchful relationship between the architect and his royal patron.