Silphasastra

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Silphasastra

Sliphasastra

Silphasastra is an umbrella term for numerous Hindu texts that describe manual arts, the standards for religious Hindu iconography, prescribing among other things, the proportions of a sculptured figure, as well as rules of Hindu architecture.Sixty-four such arts or crafts, sometimes called bāhya-kalā "external or practical arts", are traditionally enumerated, including carpentry, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry etc., besides sixty-four abhyantara-kalā or "secret arts"' which include mostly "erotic arts" such as kissing, embracing, etc. (Monier-Williams s.v. śilpa).While the fields are related, Shilpa Shastras explicitly deal with sculpture - forming statues, icons, stone murals, etc. In contrast, Vastu Shastra are concerned primarily with building architecture - building houses, forts, temples, apartments, etc.