Town Planning in Ancient India c10.s2.20

c10.s2.20

Śukra’s site-planning is different. Unlike Kauṭilya, he provides for the Sabhā or the Council house in the centre of the capital (sabhāmadhyām rājadhānīm)¹ and the royal palace in the midst of the council buidlings (rājagṛham sabhāmadhyam).² The court and the Śilpa-Śālā or the museum (literally, hall of arts), both are to be stationed to the north of the palace.³ Leaving a space of hundred cubits from the palace (probably towards its north) the ministers, the clerks, the councillors, and officers should be located in detached lodges. Two hundred cubits away from the palace, either to the north or to the east, are allowed sites for the military cantonments. Śukra observes a certain order in the allocation of different classes of military barracks. First, the important personages (prakṛtayah), then the ordinary people, next the officers, then the commanders of the army, then the infantry, then the cavalry, the attendants of horses and elephants, next the guns and ordnances, the mares, the constabulary and sentry thereafter, lastly foresters; this is the order to be followed in the location of their sites or quarters. Wealth and birth were the determining factors in the distribution of sites for dwellings of the citizens round about the royal palace. The inns and restaurants should be well protected and provided with ample supply of water. The cognate houses, their relation being determined by similarity of business or identity of caste, shall be congregated together in a row.¹ In the towns or villages, the buildings should face either the north or the east. In the market place, stalls or shops are to be placed according to the classes of commodities. The best plots along the side of the highways should be distributed with regard to the wealth and power of the residents. In this way the king should plan both the town and the grāma.²