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

Sixth chapter of Mayamata deals with orientation which is well known as ‘dikpariccheda’. Orientation is a very important task into the prearrangement programme of building construction.

In ancient vāstuvidyā orientation used to be done with a particular tool called, śaṅku (gnomon). Śaṅku is a very famous technical term in vāstuvidyā which denotes—

“A stake, a peg, a post, a pole, a measuring rod, the gnomon by means of which the cardinal points are ascertained for the orientation of building.”^[1]

Śaṅku served the purpose of a compass in the architecture. Erection of gnomon was a most sacred issue that contained some particular steps.

They are—

➢ Suitable time to erect a śaṅku.
➢ Suitable place for erecting a śaṅku.
➢ Materials of śaṅku.

1. Suitable time to erect a śaṅku (Gnomon):

Maya refer to the uttarāyana and in śuklapakṣa as the most auspicious time to erect a gnomon. Uttarāyaṇa means when sun travels from the sunshine capricorn to cancer and this time starts on 22 December and ends on 21^st June. As per Hindu tradition it is most auspicious time to fulfill the important aspects of human life. Mānasāra and Sūryasiddhānta hold some discourse on this method. Mānasāra adds some new information about the erecting time of gnomon. 

It is stated that:

uttarāyaṇamāse tu dakṣiṇāyaname (na e) va vā |
śuklapakṣe yathā(’thavā) kṛṣaṇapakṣe śubhamate dine ||
paurṇamīṃ(pūrṇimāṃ) cāpyamāvāsyāṃ varjayetsumuhurtake |
prabhāte sthāpayecchaṅkumaparāhṇāt(hṇe) tataḥ sthitaṃ || (Mānasāra 6.2-3)

[“In a month of the northern (December 22 to June 21) and southern (June 22 to December 21), solstice, in the bright or dark fortnight, on the most auspicious day, excepting the full moon (day) and the new moon (day) and at a very auspicious moment, in the morning the gnomon (śaṅku) should be erected. Thereafter it should remain there till the evening.”]^[2]

2. Suitable place for erecting a śaṅku (Gnomon):

Middle of the chosen construction site would be perfect to erect a gnomon. If that lead is rugged then it should be leveled by water method. The water method is a traditional and simple technique used to level a surface. This method relies on the principle that water always seeks a level surface due to gravity.

Maya says—

gṛhītavāstumadhye tu samaṃ kṛtvā bhuvaḥ sthalaṃ ||
jalena daṇḍamātreṇa samaṃ tu caturaśrakaṃ |

(Mayamata.6.3)

[“A piece of ground in the middle of the chosen site should be leveled by the water method; this must be square of one square pole in the centre of which the gnomon should be set.”]^[3]

3. Measurement of śaṅku (Gnomon):

Proper measurements of the gnomon help to reflect the perfect shadow against the sunlight and to determine the direction of east and west. Gnomon (śaṅku) always should have a monumental structure and should be circular in shape. Different kinds of Śaṅku were in use at that time.

Types	Size(length)
Long gnomon (śaṅku)	One cubit
Medium gnomon (śaṅku)	Eighteen digits
Small gnomon (śaṅku)	12/9 digits

4. Materials of śaṅku (Gnomon):

The most suitable materials for a gnomon are wood as the thing made by wood can be easily changed into the required shape by the requirement of construction. Ancient preceptors always prescribes several types of trees like, sandalwood, khadira, kadara, samī, śāka or tinduka etc. for gnomon. Maya also advises using ivory for the same purpose.

5. Execution of śaṅku (Gnomon):

In the middle of the chosen site where the gnomon is to be set up, a circle is drawn. The gnomon (śaṅku) should be placed at the center of this circle. The diameter of the circle should be double the length of the gnomon, ensuring the proper shadow against sunlight. In the morning and evening, the shadow of the śaṅku touches two opposite points on the circumference of the circle. By joining these two points, a line should be drawn in the east-west direction.

Maya suggests that—

tadbindudvyayagaṃ sūtraṃ pūrvāparadiśīṣyate |

(Mayamata 6.9a)

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

P.K. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture,p-571

[2]:

P.K Acharya, Mānasāra, series.4, p23.

[3]:

B. Dagens, Mayamata, vol. 1. p-30