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

[Full title: Features of houses for the four classes (caturgṛha-vidhāna) (13) Roofing of the four main buildings (sukhālaya etc.)]

It is stated that the houses like annāgāra etc. should be constructed using pāñcala type of roof with of two-by-two rafters (lupā). Eighteen chapter of Mayamata mentions eight kinds of roofs viz., pāñcāla, vaideha, māgadha, kaurava, kausala, śaurasena, gāndhāra, and āvantika. 

Maya sates that:

pāñcālaṃ cāpi vaidehaāṃ māghadhaṃ cāpi kaurovaṃ |
kausalaṃ śaurasenaṃ ca gāndhārāvantikaṃ tathā || (Mayamata 18.10)

The names of the roofs ressemble the name of the places known as ṣoḍaśamahājanapada. By the term Pāñcāla Maya refers to both roof (prāsādordhvavarga) and rafters (lūpa) five categories of rafters can be found in the eighteenth chapter. They are known as: madhya (median), madhyakarṇa, ākarṇa, anukoṭi, koṭilupā (corner rafter).

The lupā or rafters should be placed at the top of the ridge beam. It is states that reducing the number of rafters from the prescribed number may cause loss of wealth. On the other hand, having more rafters in a building may result to get into debt. 

Maya refers that—

dhanakṣayo mandavedhe trīvre syat ṛnavandhanaṃ | (Mayamata 27.93)

In this context the cūli or culīka or sthūpī are prescribed to be constructed. According to P.K Acharya cūli is a tower, a head ornament, the capital or the top of a building.^[1]

In the text Mānasāra it is mentioned that—

lammba-hāraṃ api chūlikādibhiḥ | (Mānasāra 50.301 )

[“The long (suspending) chain, the crest ornaments, etc., the ear ornaments (pūrimā, and the hair-pinnacle.”]^[2]

The text Kāmikāgama contains numerous synonymous terms, as it is mentioned that-

stūpikā chha ghataḥ kilo śūlakaḥ sthūpirti (sthūpirti)-api |
śikha stūpir (sthūpir) iti khyāya chulika cha dvijottamāḥ || (Kāmikāgama 55.207)

Hence, it is clarified that a cūli is a small room or tower that can be arranged at the top of the building. According to Maya, for the caste of vaiśya or śūdra, three cūlis should be placed. For kṣatriya, this number is to be increased to six or seven, and for the construction of a house of brāhmaṇa, the number of cūlika should be nine.

The foundation deposit, veranda, and median portion wall should be included in the main building of the construction. If the building is intended for men (except for brāhmaṇas and kings), it should not be made of stone. Although there is no specific reason behind this, it is possible that expensive and durable materials like stone remained reserved only for the upper classes of society. It is also prescribed that if the building is constructed with grass or soil, then the roof should be covered with the tiles (loṣṭaiṣchādyaṃ).

The base of the brahmastāna should not be higher than that of the main building. This is to prevent water and other obstacles from entering the building during the rainy season. Maya states that the height of the base can be measured by half of the pillar leght. The procedure is that the base of the building may be equal to the height of the owner’s chest or navel, and this calculation should start from the southern side of the construction plot.

The secondary buildings of the house should be similar to the principal main building. The bhogabinyāsaḥ ceremony must be performed in those buildings. A vessel with some boiled rice with salted water should be placed at the northeast side (Īśānakoṇa). Then, a cullī (hearth) is to be placed on the square of antarikṣa, and mortar (ulukhalaṃ) is to be arranged on the square of satya square. An oven should be placed at Īśa pada, the northeast corner of the vāstu.

Maya states that for making a kitchen the square of Īśa is suitable for all castes. However, the Kāmikāgama and some other treatises of vāstuvidyā prescribe sometimes different information. For the caste of brāhmaṇa, Kāmikāgama advices to arrange the kitchen at the northeast corner. For kṣatriya the southeast is suitable place, the southwest corner is prescribed for vaiśya, and at the northwest corner for śūdra.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

P.K. Acharya, A dictionary of Hindu Architecture, series.1. p.197

[2]:

P.K.Acharya, Mānasāra, series 4, p.514