Part 2.1 - Śilpilakṣaṇa (Definition and classification of technicians)

Technicians play a very significant role in construction. Since, without proper technical knowledge or guidance, it is hardly possible to build a construction successfully. It is evident that lack of proper technical knowledge or qualified technicians several constructions have been demolished. Therefore, our ancient preceptors made aware of the qualities of technicians.

Bruno Dagens decodes the Sanskrit term śilpin by the word ‘technicians’. The word śilpin derived from śilpa with the suffix ini, indicates one who properly know the mechanical, technical and instrumental activities. In this regard, it is noticeable that by the word śilpin refer to the labors, but the text indicates the technicians.

Foremost, Maya classifies the technicians into four categories on the basis of their duties, to be performed in a particular sequential order.

They are-

1. Sthapati,
2. Sūtragrāhin,
3. Vardhaki and
4. Takṣaka.

Mānasāra illustrates a mythological story about these four technicians. Mānasāra mentions them as four persons born from divine sons. The story tells us–Viśvakarman is known as Sthapati. Father of Sūtragrāhin, Vardhaki and Takṣaka are known as Maya, Tvaṣṭāra and Manu respectively.

viśvakarmākhyanāmnosya putraḥ sthapatirūcyate |
mayasya tanayaḥ sūtragrāhīti parikīrtitaḥ ||
tvaṣṭurdeva-ṛṣeḥ putro vardhakīti prakathyate |
manoḥ putrastakṣakaḥ syadsthyāpatyādi catuṣṭyamet ||

(Mānasāra.2.9-10)

[The son of Viśvakarman is called the architect (Sthapati). The son of Maya is renowned as the rope-holder (Sūtragrāhī). The son of the divine sage Tvaṣṭā is known as the carpenter (Vardhakī). The son of Manu is the carpenter (Takṣaka). These are the four kinds of progeny of the great creators.]^[1]

Let us have a brief account of all these kinds of technicians, as describes by Maya.

1. Sthapati:

Sthapati or architect, the main technicians of the entire construction, should be the master of all technical, mechanical and instrumental activities in this field. The word Sthapati derived from the root stha with a suffix kaḥ, tasya patiḥ= Sthapati. Maya enlisted a number of qualifications, required to be a Sthapati. He says that the architect should be come from a renewed land (prasidhadeśa) and should belong to mixed caste. Here an obvious question may come that what is the ‘mixed caste’? To explain it we can take the help of Manusaṃhitā, one of the most famous texts of Hindu Dharmaśāstra. In the context of ancient India, there we find the four castes. They are popularly known as brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra. The term mixed caste refers to the concept of Varna-saṅkara, which is mentioned in various Hindu texts such as the Manusaṃhitā, the Mahābhārata etc. Varṇa-saṅkara is a term used to describe the mixing of different varṇas (social classes) through the system of inter-caste marriages. The Manusaṃhitā and other Dharmaśātra texts often list the different mixed castes with specific names and describe the duties or occupations considered for them. For instance, children born to a brāhmin father and a śūdra mother were called Niṣāda or Caṇḍāla, and their societal role was defined in the text. 

Maya defines Sthapati by—

‘Sthapatiḥ sthāpanarha syat sarvaśāstravisāradaḥ’. (Mayamata 5.15). 

Means—He is Sthapati who have enough knowledge to establish building and who is well verse in all kind of science

The word sarvaśāstravisārada here stands for all kinds of knowledge, related to building construction. These all śāstras help the Sthapati to build a perfect construction without any complain. For instance, the knowledge of mathematics helps him to make the necessary equations. Geography develops knowledge of places and environment, which is required to execute lot of works, like the proper selection of the constructional site. Maya prescribes that the Sthapati must be physically strong and faithful in religious activities. 

He should be kind and must be free from envy, weakness and disease.

na hīnaṅgo’tiriktāṅgo dhārmikastu dayaparaḥ ||
amātsaryo’nasūyāñcātandritastvabhijātavān |

(Mayamata 5.15-16)

The other necessary qualifications are the ability to draw (citrajña) and knowledge about the whole country (sarvadeśajña). The architect must be free from seven vices or ‘sapta vyasanas’. 

About sapta-vyasanas Arthaśāstra mentions that–

‘kopajatrivargaḥ kāmajaścturvarga’. (Arthaśāstra, 8.3.1).

Sapta-vyasanas or seven vices come from two different way of human behaviour, 

Namely, kāma—

1. mṛgayā, 
2. akṣakrīḍā, 
3. strisaṅgama and
4. madhyapāna 

And krodha—

5. vākpāruṣya, 
6. daṇḍapāruṣya and
7. arthaduṣaṇa.

2. Sūtragrāhin: 

The son or disciple of architect is known as Sūtragrāhin. The activities or duties of a Sūtragrāhin is comprehensible by his name. 

One of the major works of building construction is to measurement that the Sūtragrāhin execute by the sūtra or rope. Maya says–

sūtradaṇḍa prapātajño mānonmānapramāṇavit ||

(Mayamata 5.19) 

Here the word unmāna in neuter gender, means measuring of site and quality. Therefore, Sūtragrāhin must be well known about sūtra or daṇḍa and also able to measure various types of height, length, ratios etc properly.

3. Takṣaka: 

Maya defines takṣaka by—

takṣanāt sthulasūkṣmānaṃ takṣaka sa tu kirtitaḥ |

(Mayamata: 5. 20.5)

The verb Takṣana denotes cut down, where sthūlasukṣānāṃ refers to small or big pieces of wood, stone etc. so Takṣaka is a particular type of architect who cuts the woods or stones into several pieces according to their requirement in building construction. Takṣaka should always work under the supervisor of Sutragrāhin.

4. Vardhaki:

Vardhaki is one who joined the small or big pieces of stones, wood etc. Normally the word Vardhaki is derived from root vṛdha that means to increase. 

Maya states that–

vṛdhikṛḍ vardhakiḥ proktaḥ sūtragrāhyanugaḥ sadā (Mayamata 5.22a).

Takṣaka cuts the wood, stone etc into different pieces and it is vardhaki who has the duty to join those pieces for the building work and increase the total shape. Vardhaki also work under the guidance of Sūtragrāhin.

About the definition and classification of four types of architect’s different books of vāstuvidyā give similar information. In conclusion Maya mentions the common characteristics of four kinds of architects. They all should be–active, skilful, pure, strong, compassionate, respectful to the masters etc.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Traslated by the researcher.