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The Vastu principles are more or less common all over India. It developed through hundreds of years giving form to different styles varying from time to time and place to place. There are also Vastu texts for Jainism and Buddhism. The Vastu silpa traditions is purely Indian in its. fundamental concepts and currency.65 Among the various treatises on Vastu the Mayamata has a very important place. It is a general treatise on Vastusastra written in Sanskrit and originating from South India. Many vastu experts and sthapatis feel that the Mayamata is the best known amongst Sanskrit treatises dealing with architecture and iconography." 66

208 The term Vastu derived from the Sanskrit root 'vas' meaning 'to dwell' stands for dwelling apartments in a strict sense; but the term Vastusastra generally signifies architecture in Indian tradition. Here the term is used in the sense of India's traditional architecture especially as it developed in Kerala. Vastu means a dwelling of human beings or Gods, its decoration, the furniture and articles, as well as the location of the dwelling place and its surrounding environment. 67 The term vastu also includes the material that are used in the vastu karma as well as the measurements and calculations that are applied in the vastu. Although the basic norms of vastu followed in different parts of India are the same, some variations are found in different texts due to different locations and traditions. The Vedic Buddhist and Jain literature give ample evidence of building activities. The ancient and medieval Sanskrit literature give descriptions of glorious palaces of royal life and the houses of the common people. The material evidence and structural remains of the habitats of those periods needs to be studied to understand the real style of vastu of those times.

209 According to Garudapurana vastu comprises of Prasadarama-durga-devalayaMathadi-vastumanalakshana Nirupanam Avasa-vasa-vesmadaupure grama-vanik pathe Prasadarama-durges devalaya-mathesi ca So the Vastuvidya deals with the rules of construction of all kinds of architectural and sculptural objects, i.e it is the science of architecture engineering. Every possible tool available in modern theoretical and experimental sources should be used to understand the scope and application of vastusastra for the benefit of the common man. In a broader sense it can be said that not only cosmology and astronomy, but also astrology, physics, chemistry and various yogic disciplines are directly related to vastu sastra. Vastu sastra concepts deserve scientific analysis and they should not be allowed to lie hidden in a veil of mistery. Modern scientific research is necessary for gaining deeper insights in to this wonderful science. 68 The archeological monuments of the past, Vastu works written in Malayalam and Sanskrit and the hereditary skill of traditional craftman formed the three sub systems of the indegenous knowledge of the

210 traditional architecture of Kerala. Kerala is one such region where the indigenous knowledge base blossomed to the higher level of building. science designated as vastuvidya. Indegenious knowledge in vastuvidya is linked to many areas such as geography, hydrology, biology, astronomy, material science engineering crafts and arts. The crafts men like carpenters and sculpturs play an important role in preserving the indigenous knowledge of vastuvidya with dynamism and purity. The knowledge base at this level is not well documented because it is transmitted orally from the master to the trainees. Since the oral tradition is vanishing this knowledge base which is the most significant part of vastuvidya is becoming obscure. Vastu is a universal science and its benefits are available to one and all without any considerations in caste, creed or religion. Every one can understand the popularity of vastusastra in Kerala. Many non brahmin families traditionally learn this sastra and practice in this field. For example, most of the 'kanakkan' and Asari families concentrate in vastusastra traditionally Thiruvalla, Vaikkam and Thrissur temples are the contribution of the traditional Kerala Vastu sastra. Kanippayyur family of Thrissur is famous not only in Jyotisa but also in Vastusastra also. 69 Most of the vastu texts are written in Sanskrit language. Therefore knowledge in Sanskrit is essential for the students of vastu. Most of the

211 vastu teachers are experts in both these subjects. In some cases students to learn Sanskrit with the help of the Sanskrit teachers. Number of scientific texts related to Vastu were available in Kerala like Mayamatam, Manasaram, samarangana sutradhara, Visvakarmiyam, Kasyapiyam etc. All these books are published but number of unpublished books are also available in manuscript form in various parts of India. Today most of the architectures so not know Sanskrit language. So they have a lot of limitations to know the correct meaning of these texts. This causes false beliefs in their field.' 70 Vastuvidya is not recognized as a subject in the main stream of formal education. Ancient engineering techniques are banned for Indian students. In modern period most of the students get higher education in Architecture. But some also learn the traditional Vastu sastra texts in Sanskrit out of their own interest. Such persons are rare but they have learned Sanskrit informally in this field at an early age. Usually the Vastu scholars learn Sidharupa, Balaprabodhana etc in the primary stage, as it was the custom in the Karala Sanskrit education. Then they read Kavya texts and after completion of one or two Kavya text, students usually get enough competence in the use of Sanskrit language. Vastuvidya 71 gurukulam, Aranmula, Vastu vidya Prathishtan, Kozhikode, Kerala Vastuvidya Accademy, Thrissur etc are some of the

212 centers of Vastuvidya in Kerala which follow the traditional mode of Vastu Education. They also teach Sanskrit as an essential language to learn Vastu texts.