NEW PERSPECTIVE ON VASTUVIDYA

FROM VEDIC LITERATURE

Prof. (Dr.) Balagopal T.S. Prabhu

Formerly Professor of Architectural Engineering and

Head, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Calicut

Executive Director, Vastuvidyapratisthanam, Calicut

SCHEME OF THE PAPER

1. KNOWLEDGE BASE OF VASTUVIDYA

2. GENESIS FROM VEDIC LITERATURE

3. BACK GROUND FOR VEDIC RITUALS

4. THE VEDIC RITES OF A FESTIVAL

5. FROM PRAGMATISM TO CANONIC PRESCRIPTION

6. PRIME POSITION OF SILPINS

7. CONCEPT OF MANDALA AND BRAHMANABHI

8. THE ORIGIN OF DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM

9. SHAPES OF VASTUMANDALA AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

10. THE FORM OF RESIDENCE IN VEDIC LITERATURE

11. PALACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS

12. GENESIS OF TEMPLE FORM

13. SPREAD OF VEDIC PRACTICE

14. CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SILPINS

15. PATH TO RECOVERY FOR SILPINS AND VASTUVIDYA

REFERENCES

1. KNOWLEDGE BASE OF VASTUVIDYA

The textual tradition

The heritage of silpins

The archeological relics

Pan Indian texts

Regional texts

Brhatsamhita

Mayamata

Manasara

Arthasastra

Natyasastra

All the texts give only prescription. They do

not give theory or concept of design

Other texts

Kasyapasilpasastra (West)

Vastumuktavali (North)

Rupamandana (East)

Manusyalayacandrika(South)

Sama

veda

Rig

veda

Yajur

veda

Adharva

veda

The fountainhead of Vastuvidya is

Sthapatyaveda

Sthapatyaveda deals with establishing

residences (Vastu) for mortals and

immortals

Vastu

Bhumi Prasada Yana Sayana

2. GENESIS FROM VEDIC LITERATURE

3. BACK GROUND FOR VEDIC RITUALS

Yagasala put up from

Vedic norms

Fire altar (Syena chithi)

Source : Panjal Athiratram – 2011 (K.S. Menon)

4. THE VEDIC RITES OF A FESTIVAL

Temporary sheds put up in Vedic tradition for Kottiyur Temple festival

5. FROM PRAGMATISM TO CANONIC PRESCRIPTION

Prastaram elements given in

Tantrasamuchayam

Prastaram elements put up

as decorative elements

6. PRIME POSITION OF SILPINS

Vastuvidya is vibrant music

Ruins of Hampi, Havelis of Jaisalmir, Temple precincts of Kerala

Harmony created from different materials

Interplay of light and shade

Solidity softened by fine paintings and sculptures

Here is the legacy of Silpins

Monuments were their Schools, workshops for apprentice ship, hall of

examinations and arena for convocation

Persuit of perfection

Acarya

Sthapati

Sutragrahi

Vardhaki

Taksaka

7. CONCEPT OF MANDALA AND BRAHMANABHI

Primary shapes

Combination of shapes

Concept of Vastupurusamandala

8. THE ORIGIN OF DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM

Design of vastu is based on human scale

(purusapramana). The human scale is

based on the length of human span

(vyama). Octal division of vyama give the

following units.

1 vyama = 8 pada

1 pada = 8 angula

1 angula = 8 yava

1 yava = 8 tila

The stature of a person (kaya) is equal to

his vyama (8 pada). The reach (anjali) will

be 10 pada in this scale. Space standards

for rooms can be worked out based on

their measures.

9. SHAPES OF VASTUMANDALA AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Rajarani Temple in Bhuvaneswar

is developed from Sreeyantra

10. THE FORM OF RESIDENCE IN VEDIC LITERATURE

Ekasala - Tribal hut in Wynad Central courtyard of a Catussala

11. PALACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Section of Kuthambalam

Plan developed from Vedic Sabha

12. GENESIS OF TEMPLE FORM

Offering on main Altar during festival at Guruvayur Temple

13. SPREAD OF VEDIC PRACTICE

1. Nagara land extends from

Himalayas to Vindya.

2. Dravida land denotes the region

to the south of Vindhya to

Krishna river.

3. Vesara land encompasses the

south India from Krishna to

Kanyakumari

14.a CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SILPINS

TRADITION OF PANCAKAMMALAR

FIVE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

IRON SMITHY METAL WORKING GOLD SMITHY STONE

WORKING WOOD

WORKING

I.K OF

FERROUS

METALS

I.K OF

NON-FERROUS

METALS

I.K OF

PRECIOUS

METALS

I.K OF

NATURAL

STONES

I.K OF

TIMBER

TECHNOLOGY

14.b CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SILPINS

Metal Working

Utensils, Lamps, Roof covering, Icons,

Fastenings, Ornamental work

I.K COMPONENTS

Alloying Brass, Bronze

Sheet Metal Work

Mirror Polishing

Casting

Surface finishing

Brass, Bronze

Copper sheet roofing

PRODUCTS

14.c CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SILPINS

Stone Working

TECHNOLOGICAL

PROPERTIES

STRENGTH

WORKABILITY

DURABILITY

SELECTION OF QUARRY

CHOOSING APPROPRIATE STONES

CUTTING, DRESSING AND SHAPING

JOINTING

FINISHING

CONSTRUCTION

TECHNIQUES

TRABEATED SYSTEM

CORBELLED ARCH

KADALIKARANA

BINDING MATERIALS

LATERITE DUST

SURKHI MORTAR

TEMPERED MORTARS

KATUSARKARAYOGA

ASTABANDHA

INTIGINOUS KNOWLEDGE

COMPONENTS

PROCESSES

14.d CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SILPINS

wall plate

ridge, rafter

collar, collar pin

eave reaper

PREFABRICATED ON GROUND &

ERECTED ON WALLS

EASILY DISMANTLED & REASSEMBLED

Wood Working

SAD DARUKAM

Arudham (purlins)

Diagonal Bracing

15. PATH TO RECOVERY FOR SILPINS AND VASTUVIDYA

Vastuvidya is viewed today more as an occult science, a belief system with

no basis. This view has resulted from its stagnant nature from 16th century.

The knowledge base of vastuvidya has to return to the philosophical search

of concept and theory of design instead of dogmatic application of

prescription.

The structures have to return to their simplicity and functionalism, devoid for

the excessive decoration.

Vastuvidya is to be researched with this new perspective for its roots in

Vedic literature.

REFERENCES

1. Acharya P.K., The Hindu Architecture in India and abroad, Manasara series, Oriental Books Reprint

Corporation, New Delhi, 1979.

2.a. Ganapati Sastri. T. (Ed.) The Silparatna by Srikumara (samskrt), Part 1, Trivandrum Samskrt Series No.

LVI, Govt. Press Trivandrum, 1917.

2.b. Sambasiva Sastri. K., (Ed.) The Silparatna of Srikumara, Part II, Trivandrum Samskrt Series No. XCVIII,

Kerala University Oriental Research Institute and Manuscript Library, Trivandrum, 1929.

3. Achyuthan A, Balagopal T.S. Prabhu, An Engineering Commentary on Manusyalayacandrika,

Vastuvidyapratisthanam, Calicut, 1998.

4. Alice Boner (Tr.), Vastusutra Upanishad, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, 1989.

5. Parameswaran M. and Narayanan M., Yajnavedikal (Mal.), Panchangam Press, Kunnamkulam, 2006.

6. S. Jayasankar, Temples of Kerala, Census of India Special Studies, Kerala, 1997.

7. Kanippayyur Damodaran Namboodiripad, (Ed.) Tantrasamuccayam, Silpa Bhagam (Mal) Panchangam

Pustakasala, Kunnamkulam, 1983.

8. Nageswar Rao. P., Pedapathi, Vedic Verbs in Contribution of Viswakarmas to the Science, Technology &

Culture of Indian Origin, Dakshina Publishing House, Chennai, 2000.

9. Jagatheesh Chandrakesh, Vaidic Kareen Roopankar Kalaien (Hindi), Ananya Prakasan, New Delhi, 2003.

10. Krishnan Nambudiri C., Bharathiya Sastrachinda (Mal.), Arshaprakasam, Kozhikodie, 1998.

11. Bruno Dagens (Tr.) Mayamatam, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi, 1994.

12. Stella Kramrisch, The Hindu Temple Vol.I & II, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, 1986.

13. Balagopal T.S. Prabhu, A. Achyuthan, A Text Book of Vastuvidya, Vastuvidyapratisthanam, Calicut, 1996.

14. Narayana Pishoradi. K.P. (Tr.) Bharata’s Natyasastra (Mal) Kerala Sahitya Academy, Trichur, 1987.

15. Ramakrishna Bhat. M., (Ed.) Varahamihra’s Brhatsamhita, Part I & II Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1987.

16. Ganapati Sthapati V., Contribution of Viswakarmas to the Science, Technology & Culture of Indian Origin,

Dakshina Publishing House, Chennai, 2000.

THANK YOU