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

xxvi Vāstumaṇḍana some of them have prescribed place of alindas, such as roga type of dviśālā has alindas on the Eastern and Western direction. Again it is stated that dviśālā facing East or North are always auspicious. Next are the triśālā houses. According to the location of doors it may have seventy-two varieties. Four gurus will dominate the form of Prastaras in this variety. Seventeenth form will have two laghus on all four sides and eighteenth form of triśālā will be adorned with ṣaḍdāruka in the centre. Absence of śālā on the North or East of a triśālā house brings in prosperity, longevity etc to the residents. At the same time a triśālā house without a śālā on the South or West, is regarded inauspicious. Author did not give elaborate description of catuśśālā houses, thinking that by studying previous śālā houses, it would not be difficult to find the varieties of catuśśālā houses. He only indicated that there would be eight gurus in this form and varieties may go up to two hundred fifty six in number. DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF A HOUSE AND OTHERS Kaṁvikā – Kaṁvi originally means kuśa, probably it was the first measuring methodology by which one used to measure. The book used kaṁvikā as measuring scale. The code of discipline in measurement is a very important aspect for any type of architecture. Without accurate measurement a construction will be faulty. The first chapter of Vāstumaṇḍana, discusses elaborately the measurement aspect. Similar descriptions are also available in Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra (Ch.11), and in Aparājitapṛcchā (Ch. 41). Aṅgula is regarded as the standard measurement, which is three fourth of an inch. Aṅgulas are of three variety – uttama, madhyama and kaniṣṭha. These formed the first three units of hasta measurement. In general the scale will be of twenty-four aṅgulas in length, one and half aṅgula in breadth or circumference. Scale is to be made of special type of wood, such as madhuka, khadira, añjana, candana, dhātuka or of bamboo. This rod will be divided into eight parvas – three aṅgulas each, and this will be decorated with flower pigments marks. Nine gods starting from Rudra, Anila, Viśvakarmā, Vahni, Brahmā, Yama, Ambupa, Dhanada, Viṣṇu will occupy one parva each. Again these parvas may have sub divisions. Superior yardstick will be used to measure village, city, krośa, land, etc. Middle type is to be used to measure palace, idol, phallus, temple, reservoir, well and water tank, etc. Smallest type of measuring scale is used to measure yantras, weapons, seats, umbrella, bed, chariots and others.