Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words
This page relates 鈥楽hayita-sandhi (Joinery of horizontal elements)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.
Part 3.4 - 艢膩yita-sandhi (Joinery of horizontal elements)
[Full title: Construction rules regarding joinery (sandhikarma-惫颈诲丑腻苍补) (4) Joinery of horizontal elements (艢膩yita-sandhi)]
1. 峁峁沬办丑腻 type of sandhi:
This is the first type of 艣膩yita sandhi. The term 峁峁沬办丑补 denotes any object that has six peaks. Maya suggests that when ardhapani assembly is arranged with six 濒腻峁単补濒补 shape tenons (肠耻濒墨) on both side of it is called 峁峁沬办丑补 assembly. For this kind of joint the middle pin (madhyastha-办墨濒补) should be solid (ghana).
2. 闯丑补峁诲补苍迟补办补 type of joinery:
This type of assembly incorporates numerous peaks (艣颈办丑腻蝉), at the upper and lower parts of the joinery materials. The total number of 艣颈办丑腻 should be determined on the basis of the strength requirements of the building.
Maya says that鈥�
sv膩y膩matiryagb膩hustha艣ikha峁� tu jhadantaka峁� |
奴rdhv膩dhast膩d yath膩yogya峁� yath膩bala艣颈办丑腻nvita峁� || (Mayamata 17.39)
In this context, 莫艣腻苍补艣颈惫补驳耻谤耻辫补诲诲丑补迟颈 mentions that鈥�
jha峁danto nij膩y膩matiryagb膩hu艣颈办丑腻yuta岣� |
膩dh膩r膩dheyayogena yath膩bala艣颈办丑腻yuta峁� || (莫艣腻苍补艣颈惫补驳耻谤耻辫补诲诲丑补迟颈, 办谤颈测腻.33.85)
3. 艢奴办补谤补驳谤腻峁嘺 type of joinery:
The assembly is shaped like the nose of a pig (艢奴办补谤补驳谤腻峁嘺), and the 艣颈办丑补谤补蝉 of this joinery should be arranged according to the required solidity of the construction.
4. Sa峁卥墨r峁嘺-办墨濒补ka and Vajrasannibha-sandhi:
The sa峁卥ir峁嘺-办墨濒补-sandhi deals with various pins or bolts (n膩n膩办墨濒补), and when the shape of the 艣颈办丑补谤补 of resembles that of a vajra, it is called a vajrasannibha assembly.
Maya says that鈥�
n膩n膩办墨濒补istu sa峁卥墨r峁嘺峁� syattusa峁卥墨r峁嘺办墨濒补ka峁� |
vajr膩k峁泃i艣颈办丑补谤补峁� n膩nm膩 vajrasannibhameba tat || (Mayamata 17.41)
Maya suggests that during the time of joinery work the architect should always very ensure that the bottom part is placed on the inside and the top on the outside. Violation of this principle leads to serious problems for the homeowner.
Viddha峁� 办墨濒补峁� ca (tenons and pegs):
Four synonyms for the term viddha (tenons) are to be noted: 艣颈办丑腻, danta, 艣奴濒补, and viddha. Similarly, four synonyms for the term 办墨濒补峁� are to be recognized: 艣补濒测补, 艣补峁卥耻, 腻峁噄, and 办墨濒补. It is prescribed that the measurement of the width should be taken at eight, seventh, or sixth parts from the width of the pillars. Maya suggests that 办墨濒补 is to be made with wood, stone or ivory materials.