Mayamata and Building Construction (study)
by Ripan Ghosh | 2024 | 61,593 words
This page relates ‘Choice of materials for the making of pillar’ of the study dealing with Mayamata—an ancient Indian architectural treatise dealing with building construction (bhavana-nirmana). It forms part of “Vastuvidya”: a stream of Sanskrit technical literature encompassing village and town planning, temple architecture and other aspects like site selection, orientation, and structural arrangements aimed at promoting harmony and prosperity.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 8.7 - Choice of materials for the making of pillar
[Full title: Features of houses for the four classes (caturgṛha-vidhāna) (7) Choice of materials for the making of pillar]
It is stated that if the pillar is to be built for brāhmaṇa or king, it should be made from śami, khadira, or khādira wood. According to the Mayamata, for vaiśya, śilīndhra, piśita, or madhūka woods are appropriate, while for śūdra, rājādana, nimba, śilīndhra, piśita, or tinduka trees are recommended. Bamboo trees are considered suitable for all castes.
Pavilions for brāhmaṇa and kings should be constructed with bricks joined by mortar (sudhā). Unbaked bricks (apakva) are used for vaiśya and other classes. Although unbaked bricks are typically weaker for building, during that time, bricks were made by soaking them in the sap of kṣrira, kadamba, āmra, abhaya, akṣa, and three myrobolans (triphalā). These materials were used to make mortars in ancient times.
Maya suggests to build a prapā[1] in the ground of the pavilion. Prapā means a temporary shed to distribute water etc. The prapā should be made by coconut palms.
Maya says that:
prapā vā tatra kartavyā nālikeradalacchdā |
gṛhamaṇḍapayormadhye tricatuṣpañcaṣaṭkarāḥ || (Mayamata 27.34)
In chapter twenty-five of the Mayamata, the word prapā is defined. It refers that:
sāmānyaṃ sarvavarṇānāāṃ prapārupaṃ vadāmyahaṃ ||
prapārupāṅgapādānte cottarādurdhavaṃśakaṃ |
prāvaṃśamanuvaṃśaṃ ca nālikeradalādibhiḥ ||
anyeirapi tathā patrairdrabaiḥ pracchāditā prapā | (Mayamata 25.26-29 )[“I now describe the light buildings suitable for all classes of society; their pillars rise from the ground; above the architrave are main rafters, purlins and common rafters; these buildings are covered with coconut palms and the like. The height of their pillars will be as indicated above and their diameter four, six, eight or ten digits; these dimensions are appropriate to hard wood and may also be used for bamboo.”][2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
According to the ‘Dictionary of Hindu Architecture’, a prapā refers to–‘a shed on the roadside for accommodating travelers with water, a place where water is distributed, a tank, or a building’ (P. K Acharya, A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture, series.1. p-369)
[2]:
B. Dagens, Mayamata, vol.2. p-457-459