Mayamata and Building Construction (study)

by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words

Hinduism Vastushastra

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Summary: This is a study in English of building construction (bhavana-nirmana) in Mayamata—an ancient Indian architectural treatise forming part of “Vastuvidya”: a stream of Sanskrit technical literature encompassing village and town planning, temple architecture, and more. This study further provides a detailed examination of the practical applications of Vastu-Vidya as illustrated in Mayamata, which includes aspects like site selection, orientation, and structural arrangements aimed at promoting harmony and prosperity.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Mayamata and Building Construction (study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction, Aim and Objective

. Part 1 - Technical literature in Sanskrit

. Part 2 - Introduction to Vāstuvidyā (architecture)

. Part 3 - Tradition of Vāstu and Vāstukāras

. Part 4 - Aim and objective of the study

+ Chapter 2 - Vāstuvidyā in Sanskrit Literature: a Survey

. Part 1.1 - Introduction—Architecture in the Ṛgveda

. Part 1.2 - Other Vedas and Brāhmaṇa literature

. Part 1.3 - Vāstuvidyā in Sūtra literature

. Part 2.1 - Vāstu (architecture) in the Purāṇa literature

. Part 2.2.1 - Vāstu (architecture) in the Rāmāyaṇa

. Part 2.2.2 - Vāstu (architecture) in the Mahābhārata

. Part 2.3 - Vāstu (architecture) in the Arthaśāstra

. Part 2.4 - Vāstu (architecture) in Manusaṃhitā

. Part 2.5 - Vāstu (architecture) in the Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyana

. Part 3 - Independent Vāstu texts

+ Chapter 3 - Mayamata: a Treatise on Vāstu

. Part 1 - Identification of Maya

. Part 2 - Mayamata: a brief account (Summary)

. Part 3 - Observations

+ Chapter 4 - Pre-arrangement of Building Construction

. Part 1 - Bhūparīkṣā: Examination and taking possession of construction site

. Part 2 - Mānopakaraṇa: System of measurement

. Part 2.1 - Śilpilakṣaṇa (Definition and classification of technicians)

. Part 3 - Dikpariccheda (basic orientation) and Śaṅku (Gnomon)

. Part 4 - Padavinyāsa (Different diagrams)

. Part 4.1 - Description of the Maṇḍuka diagram

. Part 4.2 - Description of the Paramaśāyin diagram

. Part 4.3 - Description of the Vāstupuruṣa-vidhāna diagram

. Part 5 - Balikarman (Offerings and rituals)

. Part 6 - Garbhavinyāsa (Foundation Deposit)

. Part 7.1 - Measurement of the Stambha (Pillar)

. Part 7.2 - Stambha-bheda (various kinds of columns)

. Part 7.3 - Kalaśa-lakṣaṇa (Bell capital, architectural details)

. Part 7.4 - Architectural details regarding the Potikā (Bracket capital)

. Part 7.5 - Choice of materials (regarding the construction of Pillars)—Introduction

. Part 7.5.1 - Vṛkṣa-lakṣaṇa (Definition of suitable trees)

. Part 7.5.2 - Varjya-vṛkṣa (Trees these are to be rejected)

. Part 7.5.3 - Vṛkṣa-saṃgraha (Collection of trees)

. Part 7.5.4 - Caution for tree-cutting

. Part 7.5.5 - Using Stone (Prastara) as a material for the construction of Pillars

. Part 7.5.6 - Īṣṭakā-saṃgrahaṇa (collecting of bricks)

. Part 7.5.7 - Details regarding the Manufacture of Bricks (Iṣṭakā)

+ Chapter 5 - Core Construction of the Building

. Part 1 - Adhiṣṭhāna-vidhāna (Arrangement of the base)—Introduction

. Part 1.1 - Adhiṣṭhāna-vastunirmāṇa (Preparation of the ground)

. Part 1.2 - Adhiṣṭhāna-unmāna (Projection of the base)

. Part 1.3 - Classification of base (Adhiṣṭhāna)

. Part 1.4 - Common features of all bases (Adhiṣṭhānas)

. Part 2 - Bhūlamba-vidhāna (storeys and the dimensions)

. Part 3 - Sandhikarma-vidhāna (Joinery)—Introduction

. Part 3.1 - Sandhibidhi (General rules of joining)

. Part 3.2 - Sandhibhedhā (Classification of Sandhi)

. Part 3.3 - Joinery Caution

. Part 3.4 - Śāyita-sandhi (Joinery of horizontal elements)

. Part 3.5 - Sandhidoṣa (Error in the joinery)

. Part 3.6 - General classification of assembly

. Part 4.1 - Prāsādordhva-varga (Making procedure of the roof)

. Part 4.2 - Measurement of the Rafter (Lūpa)

. Part 4.3 - Decoration of the porch gable

. Part 4.4 - The Sthūpikā (Finial)

. Part 5 - Instructions for constructing the Socle (Upapīṭha-vidhāna)

. Part 6 - The Entablature (Prastarakaraṇa)—Introduction

. Part 6.1 - Uttara and Vājana (Architrave and upper fascia)

. Part 6.2-3 - Pramālikā (Braces) and Daṇḍikā (consoles)

. Part 6.4 - Valaya and Gopāna (Lierne and cornice)

. Part 6.5 - Kāyapāda (Struts)

. Part 6.6 - Kapota (Cornice)

. Part 6.7 - Prastarordhva-bhāga (Upper section of entablature)

. Part 6.7b - Tulādibandha (Arrangement of beams)

. Part 6.8 - Prastaramāna (Height of the entablature)

. Part 6.9 - Jālakā (Latticed window)

. Part 7.1 - Meaning of Śālā (House)

. Part 7.2 - General restrictions for the six types of buildings

. Part 7.3 - Width, length and height of the Śālā (House)

. Part 7.4 - Ekaśālā-vidhāna (Houses comprising of single main building)

. Part 7.5 - Dviśālā (Houses comprising with two principal building

. Part 7.6 - Tṛśāla-vidhāna (Houses comprising with three main buildings)

. Part 7.7 - Catuḥśālā-vidhāna (Houses comprising with four main buildings)

. Part 7.8 - Saptaśāla-vidhāna (Houses comprising of seven main buildings)

. Part 7.9 - Houses with ten main building

. Part 8.1 - Details regarding the Wall of the Enclosure (Vāṭabhitti-vidhāna)

. Part 8.2 - Gṛhavinyāsa (The Layout programme)

. Part 8.3 - Details regarding the Maṇḍapa (Pavilion)

. Part 8.4 - Madhyamaṇḍapa-pramāṇa (Measurement of central pavilion)

. Part 8.5 - Madhyavedika (Making of the central platform)

. Part 8.6 - Madhyamaṇḍapa-lakṣaṇa (Features of the central pavilion)

. Part 8.7 - Choice of materials for the making of pillar

. Part 8.8 - Arrangement of Annālaya and others

. Part 8.9 - Sāmānya-vidhi (Common features of the four buildings)

. Part 8.10 - The number of pillars depends on the dimensions of the building

. Part 8.11 - Alindra (Making of veranda)

. Part 8.12 - Svāmisthāna (Measurement of master chamber)

. Part 8.13 - Roofing of the four main buildings (Sukhālaya etc.)

. Part 8.14 - Distribution of other appurtenances

. Part 9.1 - Dvāra-vidhāna (The arrangement of doors)—Introduction

. Part 9.2 - Dimensions of the Yoga (door jambs)

. Part 9.3-4 - Measurement of Kavāṭa (Door-leaves)

. Part 9.5 - Auspicious and inauspicious Door

. Part 9.6 - Dvārasthāna (Suitable position for door)

. Part 9.7 - Details regarding Gopura (Gateways)

. Part 10 - Gṛhapraveśa (First entry into a house)—Introduction

. Part 10.1 - Adhibāsa (Preliminary Rituals)

. Part 10.2 - Kalaśa-sthāpaṇa (Placement of holy vases)

. Part 10.3 - Balikarman (Offerings)

. Part 10.4 - Sthapatinirgamana (Departure of the architect)

. Part 10.5 - First entry of the Master and his Wife in the house

Chapter 6 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 11 May, 2025

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