Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words
This page relates 鈥楽vamisthana (Measurement of master chamber)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 8.12 - Sv膩misth膩na (Measurement of master chamber)
[Full title: Features of houses for the four classes (肠补迟耻谤驳峁沨补-惫颈诲丑腻苍补) (12) Measurement of master chamber (蝉惫腻尘颈蝉迟丑腻苍补)]
The width of 蝉惫腻尘颈迟丑腻苍补 should be measured at a minimum of fifty-four digits, while a larger one should be of seventy-eight digits. Therefore, five dimensions can be found for this type of building by successive increments of six cubits.
They are as follows:
54dgt+6dgt=60dgt, 60dgt+6dgt=66dgt, 66dgt+6dgt=72dgt, 72dgt+6dgt=78dgt.
The height of the pillar of 蝉惫腻尘颈迟丑腻苍补 should be divided into sixty parts. Among them, sixteen parts should be taken to make the base of the building. Thirty-two parts should be reserved for the pillars and the remaining parts can be utilized for the decoration of the entablature.
The base of this building should be built as 辫腻诲补产补苍诲丑补 type. In the fourteen chapter of Mayamata explains the characteristics 辫腻诲补产补苍诲丑补 base. There it is stated that-鈥淭he height (of the base) is divided into twenty-four parts: the plinth takes up eight parts, the torus seven, a fillet one the dado three, a fillet one, the upper string-course three and its two flanking fillet one.鈥�[1]
The pillar should be decorated with the uttara (architrave), 产丑奴迟补 and kapota. It is also to be decorated with 惫测腻濒补, elephant, makara, and lion. The word 惫测腻濒补 means a wild or ferocious animal, often referring to a beast or a predator such as a tiger, lion, or serpent. According to Apte dictionary 惫测腻濒补 means 鈥榓 wild animal鈥�[2].
Maya states that鈥�
辫腻诲补产补苍诲丑补mdhi峁ａ弓h膩na峁� p膩da峁� sarv膩峁単asa峁儁uta峁� |
uttaropari bh奴t膩ni kapota pratisa峁儁uta峁� ||
vy膩lebhamakarei岣� si峁僪ain膩sik膩dyairala峁僰峁泃a峁� |
dv膩ratora峁噑a峁儁ukta峁� vicitr膩ntarabhittika峁� || (Mayamata 27. 86-87)
This master chamber is arranged inside the principal main building, which also includes a 惭补峁囜笉补辫补. Most likely, this 惭补峁囜笉补辫补 has a veranda that is constructed in front of the house. The bed in the master chamber should not be placed at the position of the 惫补峁兣沘 i. e, the bone of 惫腻蝉迟耻辫耻谤耻峁. This master鈥檚 chamber should be present at each storey of the building.
Maya refers to that鈥�
uparyupari v膩s膩峁嚹佱箖 蝉惫腻尘颈蝉迟丑腻苍补峁� vidhiyate || (Mayamata 27.90 )
The walls of the chamber should to be built utilizing materials like bricks, mortar, and other suitable options.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
B. Dagens, Mayamata, vol.1. p.193