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

xviii Vāstumaṇḍana Stella Kramrisch in her book The Hindu Temple writes, ‘The yoni formula is but one of the six formulae, of the āyādi-ṣaḍvarga, in which the remainder determines the gain or loss which will accrue to the builder, and the nakṣatra (Ṛkṣa), the lunar day (tithi ) and the solar day (vāra), on which it is good to build that particular building. These formulae belong to astrology in general. These are applied to the building as if it is a living entity whose destiny is to be determined. However it is only the cumulative bad effect that makes any perimeter inauspicious even if the Yoni formula is satisfied. (V.K.R. Menon, “Six Canons Of Indian Architecture”, Bulletin of the Sri Rama Varma Research Institute, 1934, pp. 66-67 ). The formulae are not canons. The yoni and the other five formulae are considered when no other definite injunction is given where the temple of a specified divinity has to face, etc (part VII). The power of the specific divinity and its appropriate orientation outweigh the āyadi ṣaḍvarga.’ (Footnote, p. 34 ). Though this is the opinion of Stella Kramrisch, yet almost all Vāstu texts discuss āyādi ṣaḍvarga in details. The author of Vāstumaṇḍana was not only an ardent proponent of this formula but also added on some more to it. These are candra, rāśimaitrī, grahamaitrī, pañcatattva, vargaprīti, vimśopā, etc. After astronomy and astrology the author expressed concern with the surrounding environment of a house also. Plants and trees have significant relation with Vāstu. Almost all Vāstu texts refer to different types of trees and their respective utility in a habitation. The author of Vāstumaṇḍana is no exception. He carefully chose the plants telling where to plant those. In the first chapter, he has enumerated forty-five types of trees and plants, which were to be planted or not to be planted near one's house, their suitability or unsuitability for a new construction. In addition to this, the author suggested the determination of the shading time of a tree and creeper recommending astute discards of those, which provide shades more than three hours. The fourth chapter recommends wood as the material for construction. At first one must appraise the type and nature of the wood, circumvent specific places from where one not to collect wood, selection of the places from where one should derive woods or so. Condition of the wood must also be taken care of. Author mentioned fifty-eight types of trees which are regarded auspicious for human dwelling and forty types of trees which are most apposite – suitable for temples but malicious for human dwellings. Not only the types of trees are important, but their joinery is also equally important too. Here in this book the author categorically mentioned the principles of joinery, which established his peerless expertise in the craft of wooden structure. Two similar parts of a tree should neither be joined together, nor the new and old parts of a tree be joined. Pillars and Brahmasthānas will be free from any joint. Again in the eighth chapter, while giving description of types of beds, he mentioned twenty types of trees, which are best, suited for beds, seats and vehicles.