Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c51.4

v1.c51.4

The first essential of town-planning, according to the S. S., is the survey of the soil conditions and their examination. In its chapter entitled ‘Bhū-Parīkṣā’, the 8th, the S. S. divides the land (deśa) into three varieties:—(1) Jāṅgal (2) Anūpa and (3) Sādhāraṇa (S.S. 8.2). The land almost barren, where well water is too far to be accessible, the wind is dry, hot and violent, and the soil is black in colour is called Jāṅgala. The region, opposite to the one described, full of water easily accessible from the wells, with beautiful landscape and cool climate, fish and meat in abundance, with rivers all round, plentiful trees, lofty and full of verdure is called Anūpa.