Hindu Architecture (Vastu and Shilp Sastra)

ABOUT THE BOOK In 'Manasara Vastu and SilpaSastra' certain discrepancies in the book made me to investigate. This book is the result of author investigation lasting over a period of several years. This book deals with fourteen chapters like: First chapter is introductory, Second chapter is Determination of the Cardinal points, Third chapter is Hindu System of Surveying, Fourth chapter is Hindu Measurements, Fifth chapter is Hindu proportions or the Relation between Length and Breadth, Sixth chapter is the Perimeter and the Yoni, Seventh chapter is Tests for Measurements, Eighth chapter is Hindu Fractions and limiting values, Nine chapter is the Sacrificial Altars, Tenth chapter is town Planning, Eleventh chapter is House Planning, Twelfth chapter is Sculpture, Thirteenth chapter is about Silpis, who are they?, Fourteenth chapter is Conclusion. In the last of the book Dictionary of Architectural Terms, Bibliography and Index has been given. PREFACE A benign Government forced a period of Medical leave on me. Late Sir C. Y. Chintamani placed a copy of'Manasara SilpaSastra' at my disposal. Certain discrepancies in the book made me to investigate. Satisfactory solutions encouraged me to further investigation and research. This book is the result of my investigation lasting over a period of several years, through a period of busy professional life as an Engineer. My investigation and research are not complete. It is hoped that others may take up the subject and present a true appreciation of Indian culture. My thanks are due to the Archeological Department, Government of India, and the Municipal Board, Allahabad, for giving me permission to insert some of their Pictures in the book. INTRODUCTION In days gone by when there was no difference between Art and Craft, and the artists and craftsmen were the same, the Hindus used the term ;SILPI; to designate the artist, architect and sculptor, whose activities extended to the sciences, such as mathematics and astronomy. Hence, ;The way of the Silpis; means the Hindu approach to the Art and Science. It is generally admitted now that the Hindus in ancient times had acquired a. high standard of proficiency in Art, Architecture and Mathematics. To judge the exact extent of their attainment has become practically impossible owing to (i) the scarcity of accurate records, (ii) waning traditions, and (iii) introduction of religion and superstition in purely scientific matters. There are, however, a good many books and traditions from which, if the garbage is removed, facts can be collected in a remarkable degree. The chief sources of information are the SilpaSastras, Puranas and Agamas. The SilpaSastras are treatises on Architecture and Sculpture. The Puranas and Agamas contain ancient practices, both religious and secular. The SilpaSastras must originally have been written by the Silpis or the Architects; but the books, that are now available, bear more the stamp of transcribers than that of masters well versed in the art. Hence errors of omission and commission and loose or incorrect renderings are common rather than rare. The Puranas deal with many a subject in the purview of one volume. Agni Purana, for instance, one of the best known of them, deals with Law and Order, War and Defence, Astronomy and Astrology, Diplomacy and Monarchy, Herbs and Medicine, Geography and Physiography, Religion and Witchcraft, Penance and Discipline, Fortunetelling and Dreams, Architecture and Sculpture, among the rest. It would have been hardly possible for anyone individual to be proficient in all these. The writers appear to have realised this truth; hence they attributed all the Puranas to divine beings or Gods. The Agamas, like the Puranas, are encyclopaedic works, dealing with heterogeneous subjects. The twentyeight chief Agamas, like the eighteen Puranas, deal incidentally with Architecture and Sculpture. What the Puranas are to North India, the Agamas are to South India. The origin of the SilpaSastra is attributed to Siva, the Great Architect of the Universe. Every knowledge is supposed to have been given out by the gods to particularly chosen individuals of a semidivine character, who in their turn handed it down to posterity through chosen disciples. Consequently the inventor and the author are both lost in oblivion. This practice is not in any way peculiar to the Hindus; every religion tells the same story; and every tradition repeats it. Even the ancient Greeks attributed to Pythagoras all mathematical discoveries, even those that were made after his death. In India priceless discoveries, like the Zero and the placevalue notation, are anonymous; nevertheless they are there, and have helped the world to make gigantic strides in mathematics centuries afterwards. In an age when literacy was limited, knowledge was in the custody of a privileged few, and script and spoken languag underwent constant changes, it is but natural that records should become few and inaccuracies creep in even into those that were kept. When the antiquity of the discoveries and the inauguration of the practices are judged by the lapse of time and by the changes taken place in the country, it is surprising what a great volume of information has come down to us, though often distorted and garbled into religion and superstition. In sifting the truth out from the Puranas and Sastras, one is naturally inclined to be influenced by prejudices and preconceived notions which are easy for no one to discard. However, a sympathetic consideration and broad outlook will serve to discern the facts and to present them in their true perspective. The Silpi practices and rules should be considered as dating back from the beginning of Indian Civilization, provided they were not borrowed from other nations. In judging the beginning of Indian Civilization, the Rig Veda used to be the determining factor; but since the discovery of the ruins of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, the beginning of Indian Culture should naturally be pushed back beyond 3,250 B. C. Greek Mathematics had its origin in Asiatic Anatolia about the middle of the sixth century B. C. practically at the same time that Buddhism made its appearance in India. The wellknown civilizations, prior to this, were those of Egypt and Chaldea. The Egyptian civilization dates back to the fiftyninth century B.C., while that of Chaldea, according to some, may be earlier still. Whether these civilizations had any influence on Indian culture, or the ancient Hindus mapped out a line of their own, is a controversy which may become acute in years to come, when more Mohenjodaros, the cities of the dead, are brought to light by the spade of the Archeologists in the plains and tablelands of India. Mathe matical investigation, however, may reveal a close resemblance between the ancient Hindu and the Egyptian practices. The value of, or the relation between the circumference and the diameter of a circle used to exercise the imagination of thinkers in all countries; consistent attempts at squaring the circle were given up in Europe only within the last two centuries. The Egyptian value of