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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

Page:

44 (of 52)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Copyright (license):

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)


Warning! Page nr. 44 has not been proofread.

84
consist of milk in its various forms, butter, rice and sesame, parched grain,
honey and sweetmeat, incense and lamps, flowers and fruit. All deities
placed in 64 and 81 squares should be offered and after satisfying them
the master builder takes a leading part.'
83 ŚILĀNYĀSA
According to the MP 84 certain definite ceremonies and function are
performed at some auspicious moment before the work is started. It is
called silānyāsa or 'foundation laying ceremony' which is the muhūrat. The
first of them begin with sūtra-pāda or measuring of the site plan; the
second relates to the raising and of the main pillar. The third special
ceremony is to be performed on the day when the door of the main
entrance to the house is fixed in position. The fourth ceremony takes place
after the house is completed and at a time of gṛhapraveśa. The fifth may
be performed whenever there is an occasion for vāstu-śānti. It is stated
that the main foundation pillar should be raised on a śilã or stone block
under which some ratna or precious jewels have been deposited. Sūtra-
pada or sūtra-māpana is meant the division of the site into equal squares
either 64 or 81 or 100 as the case may be by making deep marks on the
site. It is advised that the foundation should be made with well-burnt
bricks, 85 but timber and mud may also be used for that purpose. The MP
86 does not mention the application of cement-like substances for building
purposes.

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