Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c8.13

c8.13

ROOFING—In preparing the thatched roof a number of unsplit bamboos (*Vaṃśa*) were laid in parallel rows (now called *kore*), secured at one end by a stout rope made of twisted *Muñja* grass (now called *jūn*, Sanskrit *Yūna*) which seems to be the same as *Prāṇāha* of the *Śālā-sūkta*. The bamboos were tightly held cross-wise also by other strings referred to here as *Nahana* (*Vaṃśānāṃ nahanānām*, AV. 9. 3. 4.). Two processes were distinguished, the first a net-work of unsplit bamboos with cross-wise split bamboos above it. This was the *Āyāma*, a squre or rectangular frame-work now called *Thāṭa* or *Thaṭṭara*. The second process was covering it with several layers of straw which is referred to here as *Barhaṇa* (*Saṃ-babarha*, AV. 9. 3. 3) similar to the *Barhir-āstaraṇa*, spreading the stew on altar), now called *Bichhāvan* or *Aṭakana* or *Phiṭakarī*. This was again covered by split bamboo sticks and the upper and lower layers were fastened by knots called *Granthi* (*Granthīṃs, chakāra te dṛḍhān*, AV. 9. 3. 3), same now called *gūnth* (गूँथ). In the same *Sūkta* two words are used in connection with a thatched house; (i) *Triṇa*, which refers to the several kinds of grasses, like *Muñja*, *Śara*, *Kuśa*, *Kāsa*, *Vīrana*, etc., and (ii) *Palada* which denoted the straw obtained from rice and wheat plants (तुणैरावृता पलदान्वसाना, AV. 9. 3. 17). Strong ropes to prevent the thatched roof from slipping down and keeping it secured to the main beams and pillars were known as *Parishvañjalya*, *Sadaṃśa* denoted a clamp or strut. The sling-pendants inside the house from the roofs were called *Śikya* (*Antaḥ śikyāni*, AV. 9. 3. 6). The ridge in the centre called *Parimit* (later *Prāchīna-vaṃśa* or *Prāg-vaṃśa*; now बलैंsī from Sanskrit *Bala-daṇḍa*) was called *Viṣuvat*, because this central beam divided the roof in two portions. Over this were placed a number of protuberant pots, each of which covered a hole (*Akṣa*) in the roof as an outlet for smoke (later on known as *Dhūmanetra*, Pali, *Dhūmanetta*, at present *Naina, Nainuā*). This architectural feature and been perfected in Vedic times and referred to in the Atharva as *Sahasrākṣa Opaśa*, the thousand-eyed protuberants arranged in a line on the middle ridge (ओपशं विततं सहस्राक्षं विषुवति, AV. 9. 3. 8.). A house was made beautiful (*Raṇya*), decorated and was the object of attraction for all (*Viśva-vārā*). An idea of its roof is given by comparing it with a standing female-elephant (*Hastinī padvatī mitā Pṛthivyām tiṣṭhati*, 9. 3. 17.). This refers to the vaulted roofing which we see in a developed form in the Chaitya-halls of Western India.