Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c53.29

v1.c53.29

The Śilānyāsa has got two aspects—architectural and non-architectural. The latter may be understood as ritualistic, the details of which may be purviewed in the summary and the S.S. already referred to. In the Mānasāra however, Śilānyāsa has been treated in its better and more architectural aspects and readers may read its datails in Dr. Acharya's summary of the Mānasāra—vide H. A. I. and A. pp. 106-8. It would suffice here to say that in the Mānasāra the foundation, the Garbha-nyāsa is classed under three heads—for buildings, for villages etc, and for tanks, etc. The last named foundation meant for tank, well or pool, is said to be as high as the joint palm of man. As regards the foundation of buildings it is first divided into two classes, as it belongs to temples or to human dwellings. Of the human dwellings, there are four classes according to the four castes. The depth of the foundation-pit is stated to be equal to the basement. The best ground selected for foundations is excavated to the depth of a man's height with uplifted arms. The bottom of the pit thus excavated should be rocky or water and the pit is filled with sand and water which are closely pressed and hardened by means of wooden hammers shaped like the elephant's feet. Upon such foundations, the strength whereof varies according to the weight of the construction, various structures are constructed,