Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c16.5

v1.c16.5

The foundation is one of the most important architectural items in any building. Works like Mānasāra have given a detailed account of the excavations of the foundations, their different kinds with depths etc. But this chapter of the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra lacks those details and it is more of a theological nature and, therefore, limited in its architectural prescription. Thus this chapter deals at greater length with the foundation ceremony than the foundation itself. This ceremony is performed on an auspicious date. The text after giving details of dates and stars of good omen, proceeds with the characteristic qualifications of the foundation-stone (Prathameṣṭikā). Then follow the details of the prohibited or unfit stones like those which are bad in shape, bad in length, full of gravels, uneven, contaminated by birds and animals. After this the four principal varieties of stones with their presiding deities are described :