Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c26: Chapter XLII.

Vāstu-śāstra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c26

Language: English

Chapter XLII.

This chapter is also unique. Masonry has not formed a topic in any of the extant works. The Mānasāra treats only the Sandhi-karma (joinery of the timbers). Skill in masonry work represents the real ability of a mason. It should be so done in proportion and material that it becomes an art by itself. This is the essence of this chapter. As many as twenty qualities and twenty defects of masonry are enumerated in the text. A special point that is made out is that walls in the masonry should never go astray, nor should they fall down, nor again should they break down. The chapter has given five-fold varieties of ill-worked masonry which indicates the height of the development of the art of masonry. All these show that masonry should be neither too deep nor too shallow. At the close of the chapter are described the implements, rules and the procedure in the art of masonry very much similar to those prevalent today.

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CHAPTER XLIII

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Aprayojyaprayojya (With what not to decorate and with what to decorate)

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One of the most characteristic features of the ancient architecture was the institution of excessive ornamentation in the buildings and household furniture. In keeping with this architectural tradition of old, the Samarāṅgaṇa has devoted a full chapter under this heading to describe what things are to be decorated and what not in the buildings like houses, palaces, temples, assembly halls and the huosehold furniture, cots, coaches, pots, etc., as well as implements, ornaments, umbrellas, the flags and flag staffs, etc. etc.

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A. The text first enumerates the following objects not fit to be employed for decoration in the secular buildings:—

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1. All gods (only selected gods are fit to be decorated with) demons, planets, stars, yakṣas, gandharvas, rākṣasas, piśācas, pitṛs, pretas, siddhas, vidyādharas, nāgas, cāraṇas, bhūta-saṁ ghas with their wives and sons.
2. The Pratīhāras, Pratīhāriṇīs (gate-keepers—males and females) with their weapons.
3. The nymphs and their gaṇas.
4. Dīkṣitas, vow-keepers, pākhaṇḍīs, nāstikas, the hungry, the suffering humanity (from illness), captivity, weapon-wounds, fire-burns; etc. etc., impotents, nudes, blinds, deafs, the mads and idiots.

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H.A. p. 457) tallies with the Samarāṅgaṇa's prescription regarding the ideal situation of a house. This is what it means by its doctrine of Bhūplavana (1-4). Similarly land which is barren, gravelish and full of bones, the kārpara etc. and loose, is to be avoided. The month when the works should not be undertaken are Caitra, Jyeṣṭha, Āṣāḍha, Bhādrapada, Āśvina, Kārtika and Māgha. Orientation of the buildings is equally important, absence of it, is technically called Diṅmūḍha planning and it should be avoided Therefore, a temple or a house should always be planned having a correct` orientation. Then follow the four-fold varieties of a bad house technically called Valita etc., and their evil effects enumerated. Next follow the details of the bad ground (see Study). The Sālā varieties of residential house must have Mūṣās and Alindas, the temples are exception. The inauspicious houses like Khādaka etc., the entrances like Utsaṅga etc., the inauspicious doors like Nimnonnata, Karāla etc., the five varieties of the bad houses, consequent upon the inadequate (on some place) or excessive employment (at other places) of the material, the avoidance of the wood of imperishable variety, the prohibition of the placing of the door in the middle, the Vedha of any of these component parts either among themselves or with any other object outside together with the Bhaṅga etc.—all these are well developed. In the end are enumerated the common defects of the houses and the avoidance of which is inculcated at all cost.

Cites (2)

Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra — Bhoja, Sanskrit
Mānasāra — Sanskrit