Development (c): Aryan Influence

The entry of the Nordic Aryan to Assam is a very important episode in the development of the Assamese culture. They probably entered in the first part of Christian era as suggested by the Epics. Their entry in the land is possibly responsible for the firm establishment of the Hinduism as well Aryan culture in the state. It is said that Narakasur, the legendary King of Pragjyotisha or ancient Assam was either an Aryan or an Aryanized Kirata (Sarma:2003), that hint not only of the presence of the Aryans but also of the supremacy or elitist cultural influence or ascendancy of the Aryan culture. The Aryan or Vedic culture, religious beliefs or practices as well as the astrological beliefs might have influenced to a certain extent in shaping the Assamese culture. It can be assumed from the fact of the Hinduization of certain Mongoloid groups and successive working of the process of Sanskritization or prevalence of the caste hierarchy.

The spread of the Aryan Vedic culture and Hinduism has marked a remarkable contribution in the architectural journey and history of India. The glorious chapter of the Hindu temple architecture and its rich philosophy is the evidence this fact. In Hindu architecture, the role and significance of the Vastu Shastra is innumerable that prescribes the principles of design, layout, measurement, ground preparation, space arrangement and so on. The “Vastu Purusha Mandala” as prescribed in the Vaastu Shashtra, the ancient Indian treatise on architecture “has a symbolic, a functional, as well as a ritualistic bearing on the house” (Chakrabarty:1988:6). Similarly, as in the Vastu Purusha Mandala, where “The central space is always an open to sky courtyard providing the connect to outer space. Various deities / 5 elements (air, water, earth etc.) govern different squares of the mandala and impart their characteristics to these spaces” (Chokshi:2013), the houses of a typical Assamese homestead are arranged around the central open courtyard. Again, Chokshi mentioning the functional assignments of spaces states that the northeast for the home shrine, southeast for the kitchen, southwest for the master bedroom and northwest for the cowshed, grain storage are prescribed, indicating a striking and imitative similarity of Assamese vernacular architecture or folklore. The proverb of Dak also prescribes similar cardinal and astrological consideration for the selection of site for the construction of house (Sarma:2012).

It is interesting to note here that the folk communities traditionally and invariably follow maxims of Dak for the construction of folk house. It may assume to have link to the Indian rendering of the Vastu Purusha Mandala that is invariably followed in the classical architecture. The typical Assamese homestead as well as different tribal societies customarily exhibit remarkable affinity to such orientation and layout.

Here, it can assume that the Mongoloid populations, who initially came under the influence of the Aryan or Hindu culture, gradually adopted certain elements and cultural traits in their residential architecture. Thus, they adopted the culture of the construction of number units of architecture in the homestead around a central courtyard. Thus, certain Mongoloid tribes gradually adopted the layout of the Aryan Hindu tradition in their vernacular architecture. This also led to construct their house on ground and arrange the house around the central courtyard.