Essay name: Architectural data in the Puranas
Author:
Sharda Devi
Affiliation: Himachal Pradesh University / Department of History
This essay studies ancient Indian architectural science as found in technical treatises and the Puranas, with special reference to the Matsya, Garuda, Agni and Bhavishya Puranas. These texts detail ancient architectural practices, covering temple and domestic designs, dimensional specifications, and construction rules.
Chapter 2 - What is Vastu
18 (of 52)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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58
Diti, Aditi; Parjanya, Agni. 62 The SS follows the patterns given by MP with
very slight variations.
It should be noted that the MP starts the positions and placements
from Sikhin (Agni) in the top eastern side of the plan, goes along to the
southern side, thence along the western and finally the northern. This is
the pattern of the Vedic ritual and is seen in the actions round the altar
including the placing of the bricks in the Agnicayana 64 and also in the
carrying of Soma-shoots to the pandal after they are purhcased.65 It is the
pradak峁na way. The SS66 starts from the centre with Brahm膩, goes east
to Aryam膩 and takes the same pradaksina course to Apa岣� and Apavatsa.
Then it goes to the outer sphere starting with Agni, coming to Parjanya
and so on like the MP. But SS prescribes four female evil powers,
however, no houses are provided for them. These female evil powers are
to be posited at the four corners of the whole plan.
Beyond Agni :
Northeast
Caraki
Beyond V膩yu :
Southeast
---
痴颈诲腻谤墨
Beyond Pitrs:
Southwest
笔奴迟补苍腻
Beyond Vy膩dhi (Roga):
Northwest
笔腻辫补谤腻办峁蝉墨
The point is how far back can we go tracing the concept of the
v膩stu and v膩stupuru峁 (V膩stunara)? It goes right to the period of the
