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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