BASIC CONCEPT OF VASTU FOR TOWN PLANNING

From time immemorial Vastu principles (Vedic Methods) have been applied in design and development of villages, towns and cities. The science of town planning during Vedic period was given paramount importance to an extent that Indo-Aryans perfectly shaped the human settlements into various categories depending upon the characteristics of the population. In the context of ancient Indian cities, the capital city was given due significance in defending it using all kinds of protectional avenues based on scientific and Vastu imparted innovations.Ancient cities were usually located on the banks of rivers, especially Ganges and their tributaries, essentially for ritualistic and sanitary purposes, including communications with other cities using water. This concept in fact helped to foster and encourage commerce which ultimately favored establishment of townships. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which are the only two' out-standing cities belonging to Indus Valley Civilization have resemblance to the planning concepts, of both the ancient and modern towns and cities of India.

SITE SELECTION Vastu Sastra has laid strong emphasis on the selection of a proper site for

establishing a new village, town or a city. The sites or places on which cities are proposed are generally classified under three categories.

Barren land used to be called as Jangala, where wind is hotter and the soil is black

Anupama, ascribing for a beautiful country, which is surrounded by rivers, where the climate is fresh and cool, with the soft characteristics being humid and cool

Sadharana category used to be given to average quality where huge stretches of land existed in useless conditions.

The capital city should be placed in such a local geographical position where various kinds of trees, water bodies, rivers, plants, shrubs, green vegetation cover, including cattle should be present in great numbers. The ancient city of Pataliputra was planned on a magnificent scale where existed the confluence of Sona and Ganges. The city had a long river front exceeding nine miles, coupled with beautiful embankments and harbors. It had timber walls all-round defended with 3 successive brick-lined moats filled with water. In addition, it has 64 watch-towers placed over 34 gates.

The Manasara describes that these sites for establishing a city used to be determined from its smell, taste, shape, direction, sound and touch. The topography should have inclination towards East and North, coupled with higher ground levels in South-West, West and South. If a river adjoins the site it should run from left to right or West to East or South to North. Also the site should have water table at a depth equal to a man's height with his arms raised above his head. The site should also comply with moderate temperature during summers and winters. If these parameters were not met with, the land used to be rejected straight away.

Even meteorological data was used as a deciding factor. For example, wind direction in India predominantly pre-vails from South-West to North-East. If terrain of the land slopes in this direction, the buildings would be exposed to rough storms and rain beatings effecting even the local micro climate. The lands which are shaped similar to circles, semicircles, containing 3, 5, 7 angles on its sides, hind parts of fish, back of the elephant or a turtle or face of the cow or land filled with human skulls or stones, anthills, dilapidated wells, decayed wood yards, lime stone yards, such lands used to be rejected. Lands with huge trees in the four corners were declared as sterile. Even geological characteristics that prevailed in such lands were strictly examined and decided upon, coupled with topography, drainage patterns, vegetation covers, wild life pockets and climate, too.

Site Planning after the selection of land as per Vastu, the sight was ploughed on an auspicious day as fixed by astronomical observations by a pair of specific oxen which had white spots on their heads and knees. The next step was with determination of cardinal directions using the Gnomon, which concludes with the fixation of Vastu-purusha-mandala. Different kinds of them were used depending upon the need of the applications. In fact circular Vastu-purusha-mandala symbolized the terrestrial world with constant movement. The square one showed rigidity and thus represented a perfect and absolute form. The posture of Vastu Purusha has been different with different aspects of structural requirements. That is to say, Vastu Purusha considered in residential buildings differs greatly in the application of temples constructions. Vastu Sastra describes 32 ways of constructing Vastu-purusha-mandala. The simplest among

them is conceived with square or pada and the longest in this characteristics is of 1024 Padas. The exact size and shape of Vastu-purusha-mandala is determined according to the requirements of the building constructions. The 32 kinds of Vastu-purusha-mandala and these are Sakala, Pecaka, Pitha, Mahapitha, etc. ending with the 32nd one which is named as Indrakanta.

MODE OF APPLICATION In building towns and cities, the architect had to

decide first, which Vastu-purusha-mandala holds appropriation depending upon the size of the town. Thus, fixation of the peripheral limits of a town used to be determined by configuring the alignment patterns of main streets which resembled the arms of the cosmic cross, attributed to avenues planted with shady trees. Thus, the longest arm used to be aligned East and West and named after Mahakala or Vamana. In fact there used to be ring roads planned surrounding the whole city or town and called as Mangalavithi. Thus, the whole Vastu-purusha-mandala used to be fragmented into 81, 64, 49 pads or landed parcels and pushed into different zones. The innermost square or pada was called Brahma and the next called after Daivika or the belt of gods, next to this is called Manusya or the belt of humans and the fourth ring was called Paisaca or the belt of demons.

Different zones or squares used to be occupied by different classes of human being. But the central square which was called Brahmasthana was always occupied either by a temple or a palace. While planning of roads in the course of conceiving the design for a town or a city, the roads running in the Eastern axis ensured towards purification of the street by Sun rays from morning till evening and the North-South road profiles provided a perfect circulation of the air and benefit of cool breeze.

TOWN PLANNING CONCEPTSThe Indo-Aryan town planning principles are almost a blueprint copy of the

concepts used in the village planning, especially the central cross roads, Mangalavithi or Pradaksinapatha. The ground was fragmented in the same style as that in the village planning techniques and the identifications of Varnas (Social order or caste: Brahamana, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Sudra) depended upon the position of square or pada in the chess board patterns of roads, house plots, and temple placements. Sometimes the amalgamated spatial patterns were followed which depended upon the urban planning contexts and, therefore, were free from a monotonous look.

The shape of towns and cities and their geographical locations were classified and determined as per Vastu principles. Accordingly, there were twenty types of towns and cities, starting from Padma category to Girinagar type. The word 'Pura' and 'Nagara’ actually belong to Vedic Vastu periods. The most important shape used in the initial concept of towns and cities, as per the Samarangana Suthradhara, is towards square shape. A city should be located in the central part of a country so as to facilitate trade and commerce. The site selected for the purpose of this city should be quite large in area, and on the banks of a river, or by the side of an artificial or natural lake, which never goes dry.

Vastu Shastra recommends five shapes of a town; 1. Chandura; square 2. Agatara; rectangle 3. Vritta; circle 4. Kritta Vritta; elliptical 5. Gola Vritta; full circle.

Silpasasthras refers to four distinct categories of habitation settlements within the forts and fortified cities; 1. Janabhavanas: houses for common mass. 2. Rajbhavanas: palaces and gorgeous mansions for ruling class. 3. Devabhavanas: religious shrines. 4. The public buildings such as public rest house, public gardens, public libraries, public tents, reservoirs, and wellsThere should be a wall around the town, which should be six dandas (180cms

approx.) high and twelve dandas wide. Beyond this wall there should be three moats of 14 feet, 12 feet and 10 feet wide to be constructed four arm-lengths apart. The depth should be three-fourth of width. Three-east west and three North – south roads, should divide the town. The main roads should be eight dandas wide and other roads four dandas wide.

While site planning a city or a town, Vastu pertaining to placement of different building enclosures used to be observed very strictly. For example, the palace was to be placed exactly in the centre of the town by occupying one -ninth of the area of the whole of the fort. The palace faced exactly East with lands reserved for teachers and priests in the North-East direction. The royal kitchen including elephant stables and store houses used to be placed in the South-East. On the external sides, merchants trading in liquid, grains, and artists used to stay. The main treasury, accounts offices, etc., used to be placed in the South-East. The store houses containing forest products and the arsenal used to be placed in the South-West. In the South, commercial buildings and merchants houses used to be placed, including those of army generals. Stables for asses, horses etc. used to be placed in the South-West. In the North-West, the chariots and conveying vehicles used to be placed. In the West textile based materials, bamboo mats, armors and weapons used to be kept. In the North-West shops and hospitals and stables of cows were placed. To the exact North of the palace, the temple used to be decided upon. Residence for Brahmins used to be found within the precincts of this area. In addition, landscaping and garden planning was also placed. Especially huge trees always dominated the centre of the town or a city. This tree was the Bodhi tree under which village communities used to meet. In fact, the city architect was assisted by a landscape architect (Aramakral Imavanakarinah) in planning a city. There should be one well for every group of ten houses

Roads: Grid –iron pattern: main streets; Primary, Secondary & Tertiary street layout; Street with green plant borders; Pedestrian footpath between street & green belt; Junction of main axis: Brahmastana

The streets that run round the layout can have buildings on one side. These buildings can relate to schools, colleges, public libraries and buildings, offices, guest houses etc. The smaller streets can have residential buildings on both sides. Each segment or block can have houses that are uniform in height and appearance. People of similar professions, age groups, health can be housed in the same quarters.

Manasara speaks of the street that is on the border of the street (Mangalaveedhi) and the street that surrounds the Brahmasthana (Brahmaveedhi)

There are eight different types of towns and villages according to the shapes: 1. DANDAKA

Streets are straight and cross each other at right angles at the centre

Has 4 gates on four sides Rectangular / square Width of the street varies from

one ‐ Five danda

2 transverse street at the extremities Have single row of houses The village offices located in the east. The female deity/ chamadevata ‐ located outside the village and the Male

deities in the northern portion

2. SARVATOBHADRA This type of town plan is

applicable to larger villages and towns, which have to be constructed on a square sites.

According to this plan, the whole town should be fully occupied by houses of various descriptions and inhabited by all classes of people.

The temple dominates the village

3. NANDYAVARTA Commonly used for the construction of towns and not for villages. It is generally adopted for the sites either circular or square in shape 3000 – 4000 houses The streets run parallel to the central adjoining streets with the temple of

the presiding deity in the center of the town. “Nandyavarta” is the name of a flower, the form of which is followed.

4. PADMAKA This type of plan was practiced for building of the towns with fortress all

round. The pattern of the plan resembles the petals of lotus radiating outwards from

the center. The city used to be practically an island surrounded by water, having no scope

for expansion

5. SWASTIKA Contemplates some diagonal

streets dividing the site into rectangular plots.

The site need not be marked out into a square or rectangle and it may be of any shape.

A rampart wall surrounds the town, with a moat at its foot filled with water.

2 main streets cross each other at the center, running S to N and W to E.

6. PRASTARA The site may be either square or rectangular but not triangular or circular. The sites are set apart for the poor, the middle class, the rich and the very

rich, the sizes of the sites increasing according to the capacity of each to purchase or build upon.

The main roads are much wider compared to those of other patterns.

The town may or may not be surrounded by a fort.

7. KARMUKA Suitable for the place where the site of the town is in the form of a bow

or semi‐circular or parabolic and mostly applied for towns located on the seashore or riverbanks.

The main streets of the town run from N to S or E to W and the cross streets run at right‐angles to them, dividing the whole area into blocks.

The presiding deity, commonly a female deity, is installed in the temple build in any convenient place

8. CHATURMUKHA Applicable to all towns

starting from the largest town to the smallest village.

The site may be either square or rectangular having four faces.

The town is laid out east to west lengthwise, with four main streets.

The temple of the presiding deity will be always at the center