Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words
This page relates 鈥榁astu (architecture) in Manusamhita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 2.4 - 痴腻蝉迟耻 (architecture) in 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻
[Full title: 痴腻蝉迟耻艣腻蝉迟谤补 in the post-Vedic literature (4) 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻]
Among the 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补蝉, the 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 is the most prominent text. This treatise possesses discourses on several topics, viz., including the creation of the universe, various rituals of Hindu culture, and the duties of a king etc. The book is divided into twelve chapters and contains 2,695 verses. According to 鈥�The Indian Antiquary鈥� it was composed between 400-320 BCE.[1]
The 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 also records valuable information that provides insights into the ancient architecture of that period. For example, it includes views on land formation, measurement units, systems of measurement, site orientation, etc. The first chapter of the 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 primarily deals with the description of the creation of the earth, humans, and other animals. In this chapter, Manu also describes several measurement units and systems of measurement in details.
惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 says that 产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 should live near a lake or water body. It is stated:
ap膩峁� sam墨pe niyato naityaka峁� vidhim膩stita岣� |
s膩vitr墨mapyadh墨y墨ta gatv膩ra峁噛a峁� sam膩hita岣� ||(惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻 2.104)
[鈥淗e who (desires to) perform the ceremony (of the) daily (recitation), may even recite the 厂腻惫颈迟谤墨 near water, reciting into the forest, controlling his ofgans and concentrating his mind.鈥漖[2]
According to Manu, the chanting room of a building should be located in a calm place where disturbances can be minimized. In the fourth chapter of the 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈, it is suggested that toilets and latrines should always be situated away from the main building to control odour and maintain the hygiene of the house. There are several verses found in 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻 that suggests on the suitable location for toilets (4.51; 4.151etc.) and latrines. Here we present a chart to show vivid 惫腻蝉迟耻 concepts from 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻.
The 惭补苍耻蝉峁僪颈迟腻 presents huge and minute discourse on several topics of 惫腻蝉迟耻. Here we are presenting a chart to have a bird-eye view of these discourses.
| Subject | 痴腻蝉迟耻 principles | Citation |
| Issues related to the process of site selection |
Origin and development of earth, land formation theory, measurement system and units of measurement. | 1.26,2.18,2.23- 24,2.25 |
| Orientation of site | 2.26 | |
| Suitable site for 产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 | 2.104 | |
| Purification method of land | 5.131 | |
| Importance of orientation | Meals should be eaten while facing east. Meditation, study, and similar activities should be performed facing east. |
2.53, 2.54. 2.64, 2.73 |
| Arrange or plan accordingly. |
The toilet and latrine should be situated away from the main house. The chanting room should be located where disturbances can be minimized or avoided. Proper allocation should be made for the 驳辞艣腻濒腻 and 测补帽补艣腻濒腻. |
4.52, 4.151 4.107, 4.108 4.58 |
| 艢颈濒辫颈 and his community | A 艣颈濒辫颈 always possesses a sacred touch. The 艣颈濒辫颈 community is a significant group within society. |
5.132 7.15 |
| Rules of behaviour within the home |
All rituals should be conducted at home. | 4.31 |
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Manabendu Bandhapadhyaya, 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, p.43.
[2]:
G. Buhler, 惭补苍耻蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, p.49