[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Town Planning in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925) › c10.s2.26 # Town Planning in Ancient India c10.s2.26 Town Planning in Ancient India c10.s2.26 - **Language:** English ### [c10.s2.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2.26) The author of the Agni Purāṇa³ has his own scheme of folk-planning. He locates the goldsmiths in the south-east corner of the town; the professional dancers and musicians, the harlots in the south; the stage-managers, the carriage-men, and the fishermen in the southwest. He gives away the western sites for the dwellings of those who deal in cars and chariots, weapons, and cutlery; the liquor merchants, the officers and employees are provided with quarters in the north-west. The northern sites are set apart for the pious people such as the Brāhmaṇs, the Yatis, and the Siddhas. Fruit stalls are situated in the north-east. This completely fills up the outermost blocks. Then in the second round in the east are given sites for the commanding officers of the army. In the south-east, the soldiers' barracks are stationed. In the south is situated the lodge of the superintendent of the women (probably the prostitutes and the court women are meant who are quartered in that direction). The archery is assigned sites in the south-west. And in the west and the north-west shall dwell ministers, the treasurers, and the artisans. The judges, the elite of the citizens, as well as the high officials belonging to the twice-born class should be assigned sites in the nortth and the north-east. Then begins the third annulus. In it, in the east are situated the Kshatriyas; in the south the Vaiśyas; in the west the Śūdras and this finishes the third circle of the sites. Within it the cavalry, the infantry, and the physicians should be situated in all directions." Nowhere in the Agni Purāṇa is it mentioned where the royal castle will be erected. But from the peculiarity of the scheme it appears that it will be located in the central part of the town surrounded by the cavalry as mentioned above. "To the east of the town," the Agni Purāṇa goes on, "should be stationed king's men in disguise. To the south the cremation ground is placed; to the west is located the pinjrapole or the cattle sheds; and to the north shall be allocated the house-plots of the husbandry." It seems that the above quarters are without the town proper. For, they cannot be adjacent to the royal compound for obvious reasons, nor is there any room for them in the outer fringe of the town which has been already disposed of. The cremation ground is generally located outside the town. Again it is not reasonable that the agriculturist who has to ply their ploughs, from day to day, in the fields lying without the town should be provided with quarters inside the town. Besides, the disguised officers will watch the approach of the enemy. For these reasons, I think, they are placed outside the town and, yet, given the protection of the town-fort. This is confirmed by the next sentence wherein it is laid down that villages will be set up in the corners without the town where Mlecchas will be quartered. There should be a symmetrical distribution of a good number of markets. - [Previous: c10.s2.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2.25) - [Next: c10.s2.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2.27) - [Up: c10.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Agnipurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.agni) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.dutt-1925.c10.s2.26) · Pramāṇa