Techniques (f): Pre-measures of Construction

[Full title: Pre-measures of Construction: Selection and Preparation of Site]

Before the construction of a house, the first aspect that comes into the consideration is the selection of the suitable and proper site. In the matter of site selection, utmost care is taken across communities. It is because; different kind of socio-religious beliefs, superstitions, astrological beliefs, traditional norms, and practices revolving round the supernatural belief operates the process of selection of site. Such consideration in regard to the construction of house, especially for the main house, is indispensible part of the vernacular architecture tradition. Some of these considerations are practical driven that examines the aspects such as dampness, warmness, sweetness of the site or availability of water. Simultaneously, a host of such beliefs and practices current in connection with the selection of site are supernatural belief driven. Such supernatural belief driven practices are the tests to check the supernatural favourability of the intended site. And it is believed that the deviation from such norm and tradition will bring ill fortune upon the residents of the house or the family and regard it as ominous. There is no doubt that such rules and traditional beliefs are the outcome of an age-old beliefs and experiences of the members of the concerned society.

Thus, different traditional practices are prevalent in different communities of Assam to check the supernatural favourability and selection of site. They can be categorized as:

1. Selection of Site through consultation of a diviner / geomancy
2. Through traditional system of “danda-bheti-choa” / astrological consideration,
3. Through Burying of Rice,
4. Through Hurling of Egg,
5. Through Dreaming.

In many societies, a diviner is consulted for the selection of site. The diviner, either through geomancy or through consultation of the almanac, selects the auspiciousness of the site. The process of selection of site by the diviner is known as “mangal-choa”. Thus, the Tai Buddhist communities consult the traditional diviner called Pathek, who in consultation of the traditional Tai almanac selects the site. It is heard that there were practice of geomancy carried out through the legs of chicken or through splitting of plantain leaf among the Khamyangs. Among the Karbis, cowry shell is used in geomancy for the selection of site.

Another system of selection of site is through astrological consideration. In this system, as in the Vastu Purusha Mandal prescribed in the classical architectural text of India, the proposed site is divided into number of squares and the auspicious area for the construction is selected. The vastu mandal, as is prescribed on the proverb of Dak, can be said to be the system inspired by the classical Vastu Purusha Mandala, followed in the construction of Hindu architecture. Another similar system, which can be called a more folkish version of the same, is the danda- bheti-choa. In this system, prevalent among different communities, the four corner of the site is demarcated and lines or ropes are stretched connecting two opposite corners of the site. The hypotenuse lines are regarded as the dan or danda, which are regarded as the passageway of spirits. Therefore, these lines are never disturbed through construction and the areas between the cross-sections of hypotenuses are regarded as auspicious area. Goswami also mentioned that there are eight directions of the twelve months and Nagatatva is consulted for the selection of the site. Thus, there are different stipulated directions for the dhada, yama, agni, and preta in a plot, and the area in between them is the ideal site for the construction of the house (Dev Goswami:2005).

Among the Mongoloid people of the state, the most common system of selection of the site is through the burying of rice. In this system, usually a fixed number of rice is buried in the site for at least a night, following the traditional procedure. This is carried out either by the head of the family or by the traditional priest. The next morning the intactness of the rice is checked and intactness of the same indicates the approval or auspiciousness of the site. Contrarily, any disturbance in the kept material is regarded as ominous, portent, and disapproval. In such case, the site is either abandoned or remedial measures are taken to mend the thing. Thus, the Bodo, Mising, Rabha, Tai communities, or the Tiwas follow more or less similar procedure to select the site.

In the above system, it appears that the favourability of the benevolent spirit or God is checked and the use of rice for the purpose bears the significance. The rice is a most venerated and auspicious article, pertaining to Goddess Laksmi. Thus, any disturbance in the rice symbolically indicates the disapproval of the Goddess and vice versa. Simultaneously, the act of burying the article nightlong also bears significance. For, it is a traditional belief that the ghosts and malevolent forces meander in the darkness of night. So, in that case, any disturbance in the kept article may be regarded as a signal of supremacy of malevolent forces over the benevolent forces.

In another system, prevalent among the Tiwas, an egg is hurled in the site and if the egg does not break then the site is regarded as appropriate (Bordoloi:2015). Likewise, custom of dream analysis for site selection is prevalent among the Garos, where after cleaning a proposed site;the owner takes bath and falls asleep to dream. It is believed that the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the site is signalled by dreams.

After the selection of the site, the site is prepared through different method. Such preparations are also driven by the supernatural beliefs. Thus, there is practice prevalent to plough and dig the soil to look for any bones, nails or other inauspicious materials buried in the site. Therefore, such things are searched and removed from the site. In another practice, mustard seeds are sowed in the proposed land, perhaps for common belief that mustard seed eradicate evil forces. Through such measures, the site is finally made auspicious and safe for construction.