Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024
This page relates 鈥榁riksha-lakshana (Definition of suitable trees)鈥� of the study dealing with Mayamata鈥攁n ancient Indian architectural treatise dealing with building construction (bhavana-nirmana). It forms part of 鈥淰astuvidya鈥�: a stream of Sanskrit technical literature encompassing village and town planning, temple architecture and other aspects like site selection, orientation, and structural arrangements aimed at promoting harmony and prosperity.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 7.5.1 - V峁沰峁-lak峁峁嘺 (Definition of suitable trees)
[Note: This article is part of the series: 辫腻诲补辫谤补尘腻峁嘺-诲谤补惫测补-parigraha-惫颈诲丑腻苍补 (Measurement of the pillars and regulation of the acquisition of materials)]
According to Maya the characteristics of trees used in buildings are as follows: it should be hard and smooth (蝉苍颈驳诲丑补蝉腻谤补), extremely firm (尘补丑补蝉腻谤补), neither too old nor immature, not crooked, and free from any kind of injury or defect.
Maya says that:
蝉苍颈驳诲丑补蝉腻谤补mah膩s膩r膩 hysv峁沝dh膩staru峁噀tar膩 |
avakr膩 nirvra峁嚹� sarve grah墨tavy膩 mah墨ruh膩岣� ||(Mayamata 15.62)
[鈥淭he chosen trees must be perfect, hard and vigorous; they should neither be old nor should they be saplings; they should not be crooked and should be undamaged.鈥漖[1]
It is also specified that the trees located in holy places, mountains, forests, and pilgrimage sites, which are beautiful to look at and attractive to the mind, offer all kinds of wealth and prosperity. It is because trees in these areas are often considered as sacred and are believed to be blessed by divine presence.
Suitable trees for the making of Stambha (Pillar)
The following trees are suitable for making of pillars as per Mayamata. They are鈥�
笔耻谤耻峁 鈥� White Fig (Ficus virens)
碍补迟迟丑腻 鈥� Acacia catechu
厂腻濒补 鈥� Sal tree (Shorea robusta)
惭补丑耻测腻 鈥� Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia)
Campaka 鈥� Champak tree (Michelia champaca)
艢颈峁兣沘辫补 鈥� Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)
Arjuna 鈥� Arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna)
础箩补办补谤峁噄苍 鈥� Unknown
碍峁Ｄ玶墨峁嚹� 鈥� Unknown
Padma 鈥� Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Candana 鈥� Sandalwood (Santalum album)
笔颈艣颈迟补 鈥� Unknown
Dhanvana 鈥� Unknown
笔颈峁囜笉墨 鈥� Uncertain, could be a specific regional or ancient name
厂颈峁僪补 鈥� Uncertain, could refer to a specific tree or a lion-like characteristic tree.
搁腻箩腻诲补苍补 鈥� r膩j膩dana峁� piy膩la艣ca sannakadrurdhanu峁a峁璦 | (础尘补谤补办辞峁 2.92)
艢补尘墨 鈥� Sami tree (Prosopis cineraria)
Tilaka 鈥� Tilak tree (Clerodendrum phlomidis)
Nimba 鈥� Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
膧蝉补苍补 鈥� Indian Laurel (Terminalia tomentosa)
艢颈谤墨峁 鈥� (Albizia lebbeck)
Eka 鈥� Unknown
碍腻濒补 鈥� Unknown
碍补峁璸丑补濒补 鈥� Box myrtle (Myrica esculenta)
Timisa 鈥� Unknown
Likuca 鈥� Breadfruit tree (Artocarpus lakoocha)
碍补迟补丑腻濒补 鈥� Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
厂补辫迟补辫补谤峁嘺办补 鈥� Blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris)
叠丑补耻尘腻 鈥� Unknown
骋补惫腻办峁Ｄ玭 鈥� Uncertain, could be a regional or ancient name for a specific tree.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
B. Dagens, Mayamata, vol. 1, p.195.