Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024
This page relates 鈥榃idth, length and height of the Shala (House)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 7.3 - Width, length and height of the 艢腻濒腻 (House)
[Full title: Details regarding Houses (艣腻濒腻惫颈诲丑腻苍补) (3) Width, length and height of the 艢腻濒腻 (House)]
Width:
In the category of the house that contains single main building, eleven verities, starting with three/four cubits and ending with twentythree/four cubits can be found. The growing measurement of width should be done by successive increments of two cubits.
Therefore, two sets could be available鈥�
a) In odd numbers
b) In even numbers
1st厂别迟鈥�3cbt+2cbt=5cbt+2cbt=7cbt+2cbt=9cbt+2cbt=11cbt+2cbt=13cbt+2=15cbt +2=17cbt+2cbt=19cbt+2= 21cbt.
2nd 厂别迟鈥�4cbt+2cbt=6cbt+2=8cbt+2cbt=10cbt+2cbt=12cbt+2cbt=14cbt+2cbt=16cb t+2cbt=18+2cbt=20cbt+2cbt=22cb t. (Measurements are in cubit, cbt= cubit).
In a house, comprising of two or three main buildings (艣腻濒腻), seven types of width can be possible. Here the measurement should be from seven to nineteen cubits or eight to twenty cubits, by the successive increments of two cubits each.
Length:
Length of the 艣腻濒腻s can be calculated by several ways. They are-
a. The length is one and a quarter of the widths. Therefore, the ratio is Width: Length = 1:1.25
b. The length is one and half of the widths= 1:1.5
c. The length is one and three quarter of the widths-= 1:1.75
d. The length is twice of the widths or double the widths= 1:2
e. The length is three times of the width is maximum dimension of the length=1:3
For the dwelling of gods any kind of length is possible but for the common people length should be twice from the width. Maya 蝉补测蝉鈥�
It is also stated that length must be double from the width, where people are living together.
sarve峁Ｄ佱箖 sa峁単amopeta峁� dvigu峁嚹乨y膩yata峁� maata峁� | (Maymata 26. 99)
Again, for the purpose of monasteries and hermitage, where monks usually stay, the length should be more than double of the width.
Height:
Maya prescribes five different kinds of heights for 艣腻濒腻s and they are identified by five different names-艣腻苍迟颈办补, 辫补耻峁ａ弓颈办补, jayada, dhanada and 补诲产丑奴迟补.
The height of these five kinds of 艢腻濒腻鈥檚 should be measured as follows鈥�
| Name of the 艢腻濒腻s | Width: Heigth |
| 艣腻苍迟颈办补 | 1:1 |
| 辫补耻峁ａ弓颈办补 | 1:1.5 |
| jayada | 1:5 |
| dhanada | 1:7.5 |
| 补诲产丑奴迟补 | 1.2 |