Architecture in the Brahmanas and Sutras

The Sulva-sutras, which are but the supplementary portions of the Kalpa-sutras, treating of the measurement and construction of the different vedis or altars, furnish us with some interesting structural details of the agnis, the large altars built of bricks. The construction of these altars, which were required for the great Soma sacrifice, seems to have been based on sound scientific principles and was probably the precursor of the temple which later became the chief feature of Hindu architecture. These altars could be constructed in different shapes, the carliest enumeration of which is found in the Taittiriya-Samhita.¹ Following this enumeration,² Baudhayana and Apastamba furnish us with full particulars about the shape of all these different chitis (altars) and the bricks which were employed for their construction. Everyone of these altars was constructed of five layers of bricks, which together came up to the height of the knee; in some cases ten or fifteen layers, and proportionate increase in the height of the altar, were prescribed. Every layer in its turn was to consist of two hundred bricks, so that the whole agni (altar) contained a thousand; the first, third, and fifth layers were divided into two hundred parts in exactly the same manner; a different division was adopted for the second and the fourth, so that one brick was never laid upon another of the same size and form. 1 V, 4, 11. 2(i) Chaturasra-syena-chil-so called because it resembles the form of a falcon and the bricks out of which it is composed are all square-shaped. (ii) Kanka-chit-in the form of a heron (cf. Burnell, Cat. 29, of a carrion kite) is the same as syena-chit except the two additional feet. (iii) Alaja-chit-is the same except the additional wings. (iv) Prauga-chit-is an equilateral triangle; and the (v) Ubhayatah-Praugachit-is made up of two such triangles joined at their bases. (vi) Ratha-chakra-chit-is in the form of a wheel, (i) a massive wheel without spokes, and (ii) a wheel with sixteen spokes. (vii) Drona-chit-is like a vessel or tube, square or circular. (viii) Parichayya-chit-has a circular outline and is equal to the Rathachakrachit, differing in the arrangement of bricks which are to be placed in six concentric circles. (ix) Samulya-chit-is circular in shape and made of loose earth and bricks. (x) Kurma-chit-resembles a tortoise and is of a triangular or circular shape. Compare Thibaut, J.A.S.B., 1875, part I. 63

VEDIC ARCHITECTURE HINDU ARCHITECTURE IN • The first altar covered an area of 7 1/2 purushas, which means 7 squares, cach side of which was equal to a purusha, i.c. the height of a man with uplifted arms. On each subsequent occasion the area was increased by one square purusha. Thus, at the second layer of the altar one square purusha was added to the 7 constituting the first chiti (altar), and at the third layer two square purushas were added, and so on. But the shape of the whole and the relative proportion of cach constituent part had to remain unchanged. The area of every chiti (altar), whatever its shape might be falcon, wheel, tortoise, etc.-had to be equal to 7 square purushas."¹ e Frequent mention is made also of villages, towns and forts," and cities with hundred enclosures or fortifications are referred to.³ On this Muir remarks that, although they are only alluded to as figurative expressions of the means of protection afforded by the gods, they no doubt suggest the idea of forts consisting apparently of a series of concentric walls, as actually existing in the country at that time.'4 From references like these, and in consideration of the prosperous condition of Indian architecture of the pre-Vedic age as disclosed by the discoveries made at Mohenjo-daro and other places, it may be safely concluded that the authors of the Vedic literature * were not ignorant of stone forts, walled cities, stone houses, carved stones, and brick edifices." Thus squares had to be found which would be equal to two or more given quares, or equal to the difference of two given squares; oblongs were turned into quares and squares into oblongs. Triangles were constructed equal to given squares or oblongs and so on. A circle had to be constructed, the area of which might equal as closely as possible that of a given square. See illustrations in The Pandit, new series, June, 1876, no. 1, Volumes I and IV: 1882, old series, June, 1874, no. 97. Volumes IX and X, May, 1876. 8 2 R.-V., I, 58, 8; 144, 1 ; II, 20, 8 ; IV, 27, 30, 20; VIII, 3, 7 3.95, 1. 3 Ibid., 1, 166, 8 ; VII, 15, 14 4 Muir, Sanskrit Text, V. 451 15, 14; 89, 64

PLATE XX(b)(vi) LIST OF BRICKS USED IN SYENA-CHIT ALTAR (1) Indrambi; (2) Prthi; (3) Bhurashi; (4) Surasi; (5) Jasteya; (6) Birat ; (7) Samrajajyo; (8) Brihashpa; (9) Agnerya ; (10) Devarama; (11) Madhusyamadha ; (12) Madhuscha; (13) Ashadha; (14) Udamyasrushma; (15) Yastejah; (16) Machhande; (17) Pramachhandah; (18) Pratima; (19) Aratrivi; (20) Birat-chhandasta; (21) Gayatri-chhandastaja ; (22) Trishtup-chhandasta-chhid; (23) Jagati-chhandanista; (24) Anushtup; (25) Ushniha; (26) Pamkti-scham ; (27) Brihati; (28) Machharn; (29) Pramachham; (30) Pratima; (31) Aratriv; (32) Birata-chham; (33) Gayatri-chham; (34) Trishtupchham; (35) Jagatichham; (36) Anushtup; (37) Ushniha; (38) Pamkti; (39) Brihati; (40) Machhanda; (41) Pramachhandah; (42) Pratima; (43) Aratri; (44) Biratachham; (45) Gayatrichham; (46) Trishtupachham; (47) Jagati-chham ; (48) Anushtup; (49) Ushni; (50) Pamkti-chham; (51) Brhati; (52) Apaintve ; (53) Apam-tvodma; (54) Apamtvata; (55) Apamtva; (56) Apamtvaya; (57) Arnave; (58) Samudre; (59) Salile; (60) Apamksa; (61) Apamsa; (62) Apamtva; (63) Apamtva; (64) Apamtvayu; (65) Apamtvayo; (66) Gayatri ; (67) Apamtva; (68) Trishtup; (69) Jagati; (70) Anushtup; (71) Paktischham ; (72) Aravemva; (73) Ayoshkr; (74) Ayoshpatva; (75) Vish; (76) Brihaspataye ; (77) Adhmasam; (78) Ritasadasi; (79) Salya-sadasi; (80) Tejahsadasi; (81) Vayah-sadasi (82) Yasah-sadasi; (83) Grino; (84) Dhamasi; (85) Sanirasi); (86) Ritirasi; (87) Sakti; (88) Bhutirasi; (89) Karmasi; (90) Gudoshi; (91) Kshatrampa; (92) Kshatrampinva; (93) Kshatramjinva; (94) Kshatramyachha ; (95) Kshatramdrngaha; (96) Kshatramasi; (97) Visveshutva; (98) Visveshutva; (99) Visveshutvadi; (100) Visveshutva; (101) Visvasutva; (102) Visvasutva; (103) Visveshutva; (104) Visvasutva; (105) Visvasutva; (106) Divisi%; (107) Svarjindasi; (108) Putanajid ; (109) Bhurijid; (110) Abhijid ; (111) Visvajid ; (112) Sarvajid ; (113) Satrajid; (114) Dhanajid; (115) Bhabhasi; (116) Vishpabhasi; (117) Prastrabhasi; (118) Sepatnaha; (119) Abhimati; (120) Arati ; (121) Yatuhanam; (122) Pisachaha; (123) Rakshohanam; (124) Satruhanam ; (125) Udvadasi; (126) Uditirasi; (127) Udatyasi; (128) Atrumama; (129) Atramamtya; (130) Akantira; (131) Samkramamana; (132) Samkramam ; (133) Samkranti; (134) Sarmyasi; (135) Svarasi; (136) Ishisi; (137) Urjisi ; (138) Bhagesida; (139) Dravinesida; (140) Sabhritesida; (141) Prithivyaya ; (142) Vishnoprshve; (143) Idayapah; (144) Dhritavatisi; (145) Pinvamave ; (146) Samvatsare; (147) Parivatsare; (148) Idavatsa; (149) Iduvatsare; (150) Idvatsare; (151) Vatsaresi; (152) Ekamsyam; (153) Dasasu; (154) Satemsi ; (155) Sahasre; (156) Ayute; (157) Niyute; (158) Prayutesi; (159) Arbude ; (160) Nyarbude 3 B (161) Samudre; (162) Madhye; (163) Padme; (164) Antesi; (165) Parardhasi; (166) Pinvamanasi; (167) Rtamasyrta; (168) Satyamasi; (169) Sanirasi; (170) Sanga-sritasi; (171) Sampada; (172) Ayusahpranangasam; (173) Pranadapanamgasam; (174) Apanaduyanangasam; (175) Vyana-chakshuh3 (176) Chakshushah sro; (177) Srotatmanah%3 B (178) Manaso; (179) Vachaa; (180) Atmanah; (181) Prithivya; (182) Antarvikshaddi; (183) Divahsudhah; (184) Prithivi; (185) Antariksham3 (186) Dyaurvasa; (187) Rigvasa; (188) Vidvasa; (189) Trivrite; (190) Pamvadagaute; (191) Maptada; (192) Ekavingagaute; (193) Trinavantejah; (194) Manaso; (195) Tvamasthe ; (196) Lokam; (197) Lokamprina; (198) Lokamprina ; (199) Lokamprina; (200) Lokamprina. (vi) Syena-ghit-Names of briges Page 64