Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c52.27

v1.c52.27

The inauspiciousness or unsuitability or imperfection of a town-plan mostly rests on the occurrence of a variation in the shape contrary to the one deemed fit and auspicious. While the authoritative sources like Mayamata (Ch. X) and Devī Purāṇa (Ch. 72) recommend a variety of good many shapes—square, rectangular or oblong, circular, elliptical, triangular, etc. the S. S. restricts its prescription to only one shape—the square one. The accounts of Agni (Ch. 106) and Matsya (Ch. 217) to some extent are not very different from those of the Samarāṅgaṇa. Apart from the square shape the S. S. can admit of no other shape. It recommends square plan in relation to the towns. The square is the fundamental form of Indian architecture. It is the mark of order, of finality to expanding life, its form and of perfection beyond life and death. It has its sanctity from the Vedic altar. From square as fundamental sacrificial symbolism, the temple architecture was evolved in its likeness. Hence “Bhoja (vide his Yukti Kalpataru) cites with approval, the opinion of Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇa that hardly ever should towns be shaped triangular or circular, while longitudinal or square towns are the best". "Both concur in the view that long-shaped towns make for permanence, peace and prosperity: while a square capital yields to the sovereign all the four fruitions (catur-varga), piety, means, desire and salvation. Triangular towns annihilate the three powers whereas circular ones are hot beds of many endemic pestilences". Again "it is clear that the rectangular or square shapes were the most favourable with the Indo-Aryan town-planners and were generally adopted in practice. The circular, triangular, multi-triangular or any irregular civic contours were denounced, because such shapes would react upon the planning of sites, and buildings and their orientation" (T.P. In Ancient India—103 & 104).