Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v1.c55.77

v1.c55.77

Now as regards the fastening of the horses, the first direction is that a space of four hastas in all the corners of śālā, the chamber, should be left vacant before the fastening of the horses is to be undertaken. The second direction insists that comfortable position and enough space should be allotted to each horse, so that they may not touch one another and feel congested. This is only a general direction. Orientation of the directions has always been a matter of supreme importance, not only to the building-planning of India, but to any planning in ancient India. Here in the stable, placing of the horses must have due regard to this institution of orientation. Here it may be noted that the orientation of the chamber and the orientation of the horses stationed in it are two different things. For example, the orientation of the chamber to the South while acclaimed good, is bad for the horses. The horses can be stationed facing the eastern direction. This being the most auspicious in all matters—in giving bath, dressing and decorating, worshipping and other auspicious performances of the horses. These prescriptions are not dogmatic. They relate to the hygiene of the place, the morning rays of the rising sun would be a perennial source of health and longivity to the horses. Similarly the southerly orientation is also acclaimed as auspicious. The chamber facing the South and the stable being placed on the pada presided over by Fire God—the soul of the Horses (Ātmā vahniśca vājinām), were both deemed as auspicious. The horses so placed never get old and feed well (Ajaro bahu-bhoktā ca). The Northerly orientation is also not bad, because in this position too, the rays of the sun make a circulation as it were and so are beneficial from the point of longivity and health. The southern direction and western direction of the stables are deemed inauspicious. Similarly the South-East, South-West, North-West and North-East are also bad.