Chapter 5 - The examination of soil (bhūparīkṣā)

1. The rules for examination of soil [viz., bhūparīkṣā] also are now briefly described in this science (of architecture).

2-4. Having thus selected the ground which possesses the contour, colour, sound, etc., as defined before and having made the architectural offerings as usual, the expert architect should then cause benediction (lit. successful day) to be pronounced together with the auspicious sounds of musical instruments (horn).

4-9. ‘Let all creatures, demons and gods as well, leave this place; let them go elsewhere and make their abode there’: this Mantra (incantation) should be repeatedly uttered in a, low voice. After selecting a pot it should be (properly) placed and covered (with soil) wherein should be sown all seeds manured with cow-dung and be watched the growth of dense sprouts from the unrestrained seeds.

10. Cows, oxen and calves should be brought in there.

11-14. Consequently (the ground) stamped with the foot-tracks and the breathing of cattle, resounded with the lowing of the oxen, and rendered whitish by the collective spreading of barley-corn (grown thereon), besmeared with cow-dung falling in lumps like the coming out of calves from kine, and then inhabited by cowherds.

15. Adorned with the horripilations caused by the foam of chewing the cud and also with the foot-steps of cows.

16. Furnished with transparent water and fragrant with the smell of cows.

17. On some auspicious day (made so) by the constellation of stars also.

18-19. In an auspicious moment, karaṇa (eleven divisions of the day) and lagna (conjunction), while the highly learned Brahmins keep pronouncing all auspicious benediction (lit. good day).

20-22. In the (selected) spot the earth should be dug extending to the building site. It (the tank thus dug out) should be made quadrangular (in shape) and one cubit deep, and filled with water to the same level on four sides.

23-25. According to the scriptural injunction (śāstra), the beautiful Ambikā (goddess) should be worshipped and adored with all jewels, water, perfumes, flowers, as well as unhusked rice. Then in the morning the wise (builder) should offer her an oblation of milk, rice and sugar.

26-27. (Sitting on) kuśa grass spread on the ground near the tank, the faithful and self-possessed (builder) with concentrated mind and his head towards the east (should pray as follows).

28-20. ‘May the great earth prosper in corn and riches. I bow to Thee, the fount of blessings and (prithee) koop thyself dry and good.’

30. After having repeated this prayer (lit. incantation), the (ceremony of) fasting should be observed.

31. In the morning, the wise builder together with the architects should examine the condition, (of water in the tank).

32-33. If it is seen that there is left some water, it (the soil) should be taken to be for good; if (on the other hand) it be (entirely) dried up, it means the loss of wealth and sustenance; and if it be wet, it means destruction.

34-35. If it (the cavity) be filled up with earth (dug out before) from all sides, the soil is fair; if it be not filled up with the (samo) earth, the soil is bad; and if it be overfilled, the soil is good.

36. After seeing (the results of these tests) it will be good for the master to walk round the site (in order to ascertain that all parts are equally good).

37. The ground (which) like the all-productive cow (is good in every way) should be selected (as a building-site) in order to secure (ail) prosperity (out of it).

38. The characteristic marks of oxen for ploughing (the selected site) are now described.

39-40. Whitish and brown as well as red and yellow, each of these oxen is auspicious.

41. The one of variegated colour and the one with a mark of the stick should be avoided.

42. Those with horns bent downwards, with superfluous horn, or with horns crossing each other should also be avoided.

43. Those who are too young or too old should also be avoided: this is the view (of the experts) on the matter of yoking (oxen in ploughing the selected site).

44. The ox who bears a spot caused by biting and who is of defective sight should be avoided.

45. Those who have short tail, disc-like hoof and are devoid of strength should (also) he avoided.

46. Those who have torn ears and fallen teeth and are lame in legs should be avoided.

47-50. The one who is naturally white in colour and is stamped with a spot at the forepart of the four feet, at the root of the horns and at the centre of the forehead, and who possesses eyes resembling flowers, red, well-socketed and extended: a learned man should not miss such an ox, but should make this a rule for characteristic marks.

51-52. Gold rings should be filleted round the foreparts of the horns and hoofs (of selected oxen). The forehead-plate as well as the ears should also be ornamented with gold.

53-55. On the day previous to ploughing the wise builder should make, as stated (by the ancients), an experimental yoking of the oxen to the, plough for the first preliminary ploughing. I shall (now) describe the details of the plough.

56-57. Babūl tree, Acacia catechu, nimb (Azadirachta Indica), pines (Pinus Longifolia), and plants containing milky sap and blood: these are the desirable trees to make the plough with.

58-59. The length of the plough should be one, one-and-one-fourth, or one-and-one-half cubits; and the width at the bottom should be three, four or five mātras (i.e., aṅgulas of three-fourths inch each).

60. At the middle of its length the plough should be somewhat bent, and have an (ear-like) edge.

61. Its bottom should be octagonal, half being three-stripped like a bamboo-leaf.

62. At the upper part of its bottom the top-end of a bamboo-rod should be pushed in.

63. The length of the rod should be three cubits and the breadth proportional, so that it may be strong.

64. The length of the plough-tail should be one-and-one-half cubits, and the width at the bottom five aṅgulas (of three-fourths inch each).

65. As an alternative the length of the tail may be one-and-one-fourth cubits, or one cubit.

66. The top of the tail ending by the plough-root should be two aṅgulas (of three-fourths inch each).

67. From one to one-half aṅgulas should fittingly be the thickness of the tail.

68. The root of the tail should in particular be furnished with a lotus leaf (-like device).

69-70. The length of the ploughshare at the forepart of the tail should be three, four, five or six aṅgulas (of three-fourths inch each); and its height should be two or three aṅgulas, and it should be furnished with all devices.

71. At the hole (therein) the carpenter should drive in an iron nail.

72. The length of the yoke should be made two cubits and a half.

73. The width at the middle of the ploughshare should be three, four or five aṅgulas (of three-fourths inch each).

74. The width of its two ends should be two or three aṅgulas each.

75. This should be the measurement of the yoke which diminishes gradually from the middle towards the forepart and the hindpart.

76. There should be two holes for yoking oxen, one on each half of the yoke.

77. Half way between these two holes the plough(-rod) should be fitted in.

78. In an auspicious moment and zodiacal conjunction the ploughing should be commenced.

79. (Both.) the oxen and the architect should be tastefully ornamented with perfumes and flowers.

80-82. Being furnished with ornaments on the five limbs and putting on a piece of white cloth and upper garment the wise architect should meditate on the two oxen as the sun and the moon, on the plough as the Boar god (Viṣṇu), and on the builder as Brahmā.

83. The Brahmins should pronounce the benediction to the best of their power.

84. Then the architect should plough amidst all auspicious sounds.

85. Ha (the chief architect) should plough (only) three rounds and all the ploughing (of the selected site) should be done by the Śūdras (i.e., tillers).

86-87. During ploughing the tiller too should be pure and attentive, and inform the architects when the ploughing is completely finished.

88. The ground is known as the foundation of all kinds of building.

89. The wise builder should, therefore, make the selection of the site (and the preparation of soil) as enjoined above.

90. Anything beginning from the selection (of the site) up to the end (of the preparation.of the soil), done through ignorance, would lead to the destruction of all prospects.

91. Consequently this object of building (i.e., the ground) should be done in accordance with all these characteristics.

Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the fifth chapter, entitled: “The examination of soil.”