वास्तु मण्डन (मण्डन सूत्रधार - गृह, राजप्रासाद, दुर्ग एवं नगर-वास्तु सटीक)

xxviii Vāstumaṇḍana Doors should not be bent, projected outside, too low or too high or curved inwardly. Proper material is to be used for a door so that it becomes strong, elegant and fixed properly. Door primarily protects the owner from external peril, and keeping this in mind a builder will erect the door in prescribed location making it as strong as possible. Gavākṣa – For a house, temple, palace and so on, proper ventilation is the fundamental requirement. Being the Vāstu text of the Rajasthan belt, gavākṣas known as windows, are speciality of Rajasthan and Gujarat architecture. Due to the hot and dry climatic condition, this type of window is different from those in other parts of India. Latticed window gives proper ventilation and at the same time functions as a buffer protecting one from heat, dust and cold. They may be of five types according to the different types of lumvika and we find mention of another five types according to the number of chhādyas. Alinda – Alinda plays an instrumental role in designing of a house. Here the design of a house is created with the help of a device known as prastara, which is a combination of guru and laghu, i.e., wall and alinda. Placing alindas in the proper place and right direction is very crucial for a palace or a house. For a normal house there must be at least two, three or four alindas. According to this book, wall and alindas are to be juxtaposed side by side, and the author is very much particular about proper placing of the alinda. Here he writes that one can design myriad number of houses by placing those two items in different pattern. In the glossary-index of Mayamatam, alinda is described as aisle, gallery, portico, and verandah, etc. Robert Chitham in the book, The Classical Orders of Architecture, writes, ‘portico is the columned logjam in front of the entrance to a temple or other building, frequently surmounted by a pediment.’ Transport – In the eighth chapter we find scanty description of palanquin, and its measurement, which seems to be very small in size. Other household materials – In the eighth chapter of this book we find description and measurement of umbrella or pedestal for worshipping as well as for bed-stead. All of these are described precisely. The author is specific about the measurement of the bed. According to him, bed is to be made according to one’s own height and special woods are to be used. Quality of woods should not be mingled with one another.