Architectural data in the Puranas
by Sharda Devi | 2005 | 50,074 words
This essay studies ancient Indian architectural science as found in technical treatises and the Puranas, with special reference to the Matsya, Garuda, Agni and Bhavishya Puranas. These texts detail ancient architectural practices, covering temple and domestic designs, dimensional specifications, and construction rules. The study further connects ar...
Location of the plot
According to the Matsya Purana 80 plots which have roads (path) on all the four sides are considered to be the best. Such plots bring all round prosperity to the owner (Fig. 11 (a)) Plots with Roads on Three Sides: The plots with roads on three sides are definitely better than those with roads on two sides: 1 Plot that has paths on east, north and west sides is of medium. category, better among the plots with paths on three sides (Fig. 11 (b)). 2. Plots having paths on north, east and south are of medium category (Fig. 11 (c)). 3. Plot having paths on the north, west and south sides is also of ordinary category (Fig. 11 (d)).
79 4. A plot having paths on the east, south and west sides is of ordinary category (Fig. 11 (e)). Plots having Path on Two Sides: 1. North and east are considered to be very good. It ensures good health, wealth and peaceful life to the owner (Fig. 11 (f)). 2. East and south are of medium category. They are beneficial for ladies and organisations related to them (Fig. 11 (g)). 3. Plots having paths on west and south sides are good for business people (Fig. 11 (h)). 4. Plots which have paths on two sides, north and west, are of medium category (Fig. 11 (i)). Plots with Road on One Side: 1. A plot having path only on the east is considered to be auspicious (Fig. 11 (i)). 2. Plots having path only on the west side are good for business concerns (Fig. 11 (k)). 3. Plots having path on north side only are very good and auspicious (Fig. 11 (I)). 4. Plots having path on south side only are of ordinary category (Fig. 11 (m)).
West Path West L North Path Path East Path South C 8 North Path East L Path South e 8 Fig. 11 (a-e) Location of plots (redrawn after Jagdish Sharma, 1997). D West Path 8 North Path Path East Path South 8 L L JL North L JL North Path West Path JL Path South d East West Path b South Path Path East 80
West Path Path South h North f East West South North Path IL Path East West JL North Path Path Fig. 11 (f-i) Location of plots (redrawn after Jagdish Sharma, 1997). South i East West North Path East Path South g 8 81
West South 1 North Path East j West South Fig. 11 (j-m) Location of plots (redrawn after Jagdish Sharma, 1997). 3 North Path East West Path South North East West k Path South North East 82