Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c53.56

v1.c53.56

Though from the point of view of the Śāstra, a fulfledged code of house-architecture in relation to the common residential houses did not attain its maturity by the time of the S.S., it nevertheless, cannot be said that this class of buildings did not exist in India. Numerous references in the Epics—Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata (cf. C.I.A. pp. 37.45), the Jātakas (ibid 53) and Kauṭilya's Artha-Śāstra (ibid 81) illustrate the fact that these ordinary dwellings were undoubtedly similar to those which are found in the villages of India even today—thatched houses with wooden construction of the roofs and the masonry of mud-walls having verandah (Alinda) in front and the Koṣṭhas (the śālās) all round the court. They were mostly the Catuśśāla variety, and abounded in the country. Although the plans of these exhibited considerable variety, they were all based on the same principle. According to the S.S., (18.18—19), the unit of their design is the open quadrangle surrounded by chambers (śālās) and this unit is repeated two, three, four or more times according to the needs of the accommodation of the occupants.