VAASTUSHASTRA: Innovations in Residential buildings of Malla period SUDARSHAN RAJ TIWARI International Conference on TIM 2012 NEPAL 1

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VAASTUSHASTRA:Innovations in Residential buildings of Malla period

SUDARSHAN RAJ TIWARI

International Conference on TIM 2012 NEPAL

VAASTUSHASTRA RESEARCH: OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

• Introduction• Research Methods• Sources• Dates• Contents

[ Symbolism, Trees and Gardens, Site Types, Measurement Scale, Location of Building Blocks and Results, Suitability of Timber, Rule of Architecture, Site Investigations, Patterns for Design]

• Architectural

Vocabulary


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INTRODUCTION


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• om/siddam sriganesayanamah

•Newar architecture, Street-side and courtyard Houses: •Distinctive Architectural, Artistic and Crafts Characteristics, Harmony and Agreement of Design and Detail with Neighboring Houses on Streets•Practice of Regulated Design and Planning

• Vaastushastra (Sc. of architecture) Brihatsamhita (composed ca. 2nd cent BC, written ca. 7th cent AD)

• Reading, Transliteration, Translation and Analysis of innovations in residential architecture from three Newar documents

All knowledge of what is to be done in this world stems from the word Bhartrihari ca. 7th Century

Folio 1 (Verso)

INNOVATIONS IN VAASTUSHASTRA:

RESEARCH METHODS

STEPS AND METHODS

1. COPYING AND PRINTING OF DOCUMENTS2. READING AND TRANSLITERATION OF DOCUMENT A443/41

1. Sukra Sagar Shrestha

3. READING AND TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT1. Kasi Nath Tamot

4. ANALYSIS OF CONTENT, COMPARING BETWEEN NEWAR DOCUMENTS, COMPARISION WITH ANCIENT DOCUMENTS AND CONTEMPORARY COMMENTARIES FROM INDIA AND NEPAL, CHANGES AND INNOVATIONS

5. REPORT WRITING


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METHODOLOGY

INTERPRETIVISM

STRATEGIC APPROACH

DOCUMENT ANALYSIS

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

COMPARATIVE


SOURCES

Griha Nirmana Vidhi: Thyasaphu (Leporello) with 101/81 (20+61) foliosDocument Segment paginated 1-61 is the Griha Nirmana Vidhi proper. Folio 1 and 2 lists divinities associated with different parts of a building (symbolism)Folio 3 through 9 is documentation of a construction of temple named Sri Sri Sri Dhanadesvara Folio 10 appears as a misplaced section of Griha Nirman Vidhi.Folio 11-17 Section 1 dealing Trees and GardensFolio 17-26 Section 2 dealing with VaastusastraFolio 26- 52 Section 3 shows Building Patterns with consequencesFolio 53-61 is a record of some celebrations of the royal palace

Document Segment paginated 1-20 is a list of men and materials mobilized for the Dasain


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THYASAPHU in Nat. Archives

1. NGMPP Reel no. A 443/41

GRIHA NIRMANA VIDHI

2. NGMPP Reel no. B 407/5

GRIHA NIRMANA VASTULEKHA

SAMGRAHA

[3. A recently copied Document in Author’s Collection]


DATES FROM SOURCE DOCUMENT

Sambat 812 Vaisakh Vadi 1 – Sri Bhupatindra Malla

Sambat 764 Vaisakh Sudi 13 – Sri Sri Sri Dhanadesvara(Several dates as related to different stages of construction of the temple is also given)

Sambat 811 Aswin Sudi 9 – Mahaniya labiya lyakha [Possibly managed by Sri Bhupatindra Malla as Dhirendra after his sixteenth birthday]


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From

GRIHA NIRMANA VIDHI

FOLIO 26 (RECTO)


CONTENTS STUDY & ANALYSIS

Sources distinguished by starting SalutationsSection defined by starting symbols Om and SiddhamChapters defined by titles eg Visesha Lhaya TREES & GARDENS SITE TYPES MEASUREMENT SCALE

BUILDING LAYOUT AND CONSEQUENCES SUITABILITY OF TIMBER RULES OF ARCHITECTURE

SITE INVESTIGATIONS PATTERNS FOR DESIGN ARCH VOCABULARY


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CONTENTS

GRIHA NIRMANA VIDHI

FOLIO 13 (Verso)

CONTENT ANALYSIS: VAASTUSHASTRA IN NEWAR LANGUAGE:

SYMBOLISM, PROPORTIONS & ORIENTATION

SYMBOLISM: POST VEDIC - SAIVA, VAISNAV & SHAKTA mix Ground Floor: Dharanivaraha Foundation Trench: Kurmasimha Threshold: Bhairava Floor Joists: Kalika Floor of Treasure room: MahalaxmiBase block of Ridge Posts: Brahma and Vishnu Ridge Beam: SadasivaRafter: Moon and Sun Roof Planks: Group of Stars Eaves: Naga Straw/thatch/Tile: GuruRidge: Brahmajnana Top center of Attic: Paramalaxmi

PROPORTIONS AND ORIENTATION: Very Little Emphasis as compared to ancient

traditions.


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SYMBOLISM

Folio 1 (Verso), Folio 2 (Recto and Verso)

PROPORTIONS

Folio 2 (Verso), Folio 3 (Recto)

NGMPP Reel no. A 443/41: GRIHA NIRMANA VIDHI

FOLIO 2 (VERSO)

CONTENT ANALYSIS: VAASTUSHASTRA IN NEWAR LANGUAGE

TREES AND GARDENS

Merit of making 10 wells = that of 1 spring, 10 springs = 1 pond, 10 ponds = raising 1 son, MERIT of Planting 1 Tree is equal to merit of raising 10 sons

Laha-si, Kachanala-si, Slesmantakaku-si, Arjjun, Karanjanraja-si should not be planted in houses of happy householdsGarden should be laid to West, North and East of houses. Gardens in South, South-East and South-West result in quarrels, wandering of mind and sorrow

Vanaspati, Druma, Lata and Gulma are. padapajati , who eat through their feet - born from branches, seeds and bulbs.Method of treating trees burnt by fire /hit by thunderbolt


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TREES & GARDENS

Folio 11 (Recto) – Folio 13 (Recto)

Propagation, Caring & Manuring of Fruit and Flower trees

Folio 13 (Verso) – Folio 18 (Recto)

FOLIO 11 (RECTO)


VASTULAXYANA, SCALE & LAYOUT OF BLOCKS 1

Vastulaxyana (site types) same as in classical documents – sixteen types. Chakra shape brings poverty!

7 goraja make 1 yuka, 7 yuka make 1 yaba, 8 yaba make Jesthanguli, 7 yaba make Madhyamanguli - This is said to be the Standard of Measure (Scale)!Manasara/Mayamata Scale 8 liksya make 1 yuka, 8 yuka make 1 yaba, 8 yaba make Jesthanguli1 Malla JA is 362 goraja, while 1 Manasara JA is 512 goraja (512/362 = 1.414 = √2) Diagonal of a square with side equal to 1 Malla JA equals to 1 Manasara JA

Manadeva measure and scale – prescribed for measurement of temples, bahals and land – details but not understood clearly by this research


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Vastulaxyana


Scale

Folio 19 (Recto), 21 Verso, 22 Recto, 23 Recto and 23 Verso

Layout of Blocks Folio 19 (Verso)

FOLIO 19 (Recto)


VASTULAXYANA, SCALE & LAYOUT OF BLOCKS 2

Layout of Blocks/Position of Entrance Opening and Consequences on religious merit, health, wealth and life of residents

1 No block in the North-west corner, residents of such houses beget riches and property2. With North-west corner blocks, illness and diseases will befall on the residents

3. No West block will make one studious and will amass riches and property4. East entrance > artistic qualities; North entrance > riches; West passage > loss of wealth and South entrance > fear of death – YAMADVARA!

INNOVATIONS MADE WITH PATTERNS AND USE OF RECTANGULAR/SQUARE SITES. URBAN CONTEXT REMARKABLY ADDRESSED BY INNOVATIONS


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Vastulaxyana


Scale

Folio 19 (Recto)

Layout of Blocks Folio 19 (Verso)

FOLIO 19 (VERSO)

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Brihatsamhita Stanzas 150-155

RULE OF SIXTEEN HOUSES

*PARTIAL EXPLANATIONS

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KRAMRISCH (Brihatsamhita, LII. 43f.)

PADADEVATAS OF THE VASTUPURUSAMANDALA

*PARTIAL EXPLANATIONS


SUITABILITY OF BUILDING TIMBER

SOME PRESCRIPTIONS

1. Proper wood selection must be based on systematic consideration- the wood from Dhuna-si and Nyakhadi-si can be used for any element. Also Sinhyadi-si, Gvachhe, Kudunikanta.

2. Devadaru-si, Cha-si, these two, can be exposed to water or to damp3. Sva-si for column shoe block4. For shaft of chariots use wood from Na-si and Pase-si. No young tree or Sura-si shall be used5. Good wood should be used for Ridge as in Siva deval, Vishnu deval, Mandap, for all these four.


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SELECTING Suitable Wood from different species of trees for different woodworks

Folio 20 (Recto) – 21 (Recto)

FOLIO 20 (VERSO)


RULES OF ARCHITECTURE

PROPORTIONING AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMAUSPICIOUS WORKS AND MEASUREMENT OF LAND – MANDEVALAXYANAOrdinarily 1 KU is equal to 24 angula (JA or MA or KA) 1 KU plus 3½ angula makes “NASOANGULA” BO1 KU plus 5 angula makes “NGAANGULA” BO (+7 angula or + 9 angula also) MEASUREMENT SYSTEM using 92 Manadeva angula and 2 yaba, 77 Manadeva angula and 2 yaba, 44 Manadeva angula and 2 yaba - NOT FOR RESIDENCES ?

ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTIONING OF TEMPLES – DOOR, GOD IMAGE, GAJUR ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTIONING OF RESIDENCES – DOOR, DETAILS OF PROPORTIONING DOORPROPORTION OF PLINTH, CHOWK and BUILDING BODY


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MANADEVALAXYANA

Folio 21 (Verso) – 23 (Verso)

FOLIO 22 (Recto)


SITE INVESTIGATIONS

SITE AND SOIL INVESTIGATIONS

SOME SENSIBLE OTHERS APPEARING ESOTERIC TO MODERN MIND 1. SITE with soil of white color and smell of milk is best, red color soil is second best, brown soil with

alkaline taste is third ranking and green soil with bitter taste like that of ginger is fourth – seems like a grading based on vegetation, moisture and salt content

2. Dig a hole 1KU cube and fill back - falls short, site is poor, level medium and if in excess best.3. Dig a hole 2KU cube, make a mandala in the middle of the floor, white flower to the east, red

flower to the west, yellow to north and black in south , etc. 4. Mandala of ‘saledo’ with different colours is also stated5. Sites with different grasses also yield sites of differing quality


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Site Investigations

Folio 24 (Recto) – 25 (Verso)

FOLIO 25 (Recto)

VAASTUSHASTRA:

HOUSE PATTERNS

Folio 36 (Recto): House Patterns

37 If there are blocks in all the four corners and (sides and) all the four axes blocks are vacant, it will lead to gain in riches, happiness, will be capable of taking on the foes.

38 If there is a courtyard house with only the central block in the west blank, it will bring great pains.


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37 CONDITIONING FACTORS

1. East: Surya/Srigriha

2. South: Yama/Sleeping room

3. West: Varuna/Dining

4. North: Soma/Treasure room

5. Gaps are not entrances!

38 CONDITIONING FACTORS

1 COURTYARD with one opening on west

2 West is Varuna/Water

3 West entrance: Loss of wealth

4 So how does great pain come into the picture?

VAASTUSHASTRA:Innovations in Residential buildings of Malla period

Folio 52 (Recto): House Patterns

98 If there is a block each on east and on south, this will bring loss of riches, ill health and sorrow.

99 If all the corners and the main blocks are built as one and all the left blocks are also tightly built, this will lead to gain of riches and family.


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Explanation

From the main text, only a few parameters are made clear, the patterns give very many choices, this may have just been to bring variety to the urbanscape and also address diversity of expectations and problems in human life

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Explanation

Courtyard forms with inward look are most recommended in the manuscript - this may have actually made the high density low rise residential development possible

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NEWAR VAASTUSHASTRA:ARCHITECTURAL VOCABULARY

ATAPA: Brick BA: OrientationBYA, BYAYAMA: Width THASAMA: Ridge BeamCULI: Finial PHADA: PlinthMALAVASI: Ridge Post LIPHU: BayKVACILA: Niche KHASI: Door PostKHADU: Door Sill KVAKHALU: Bottom SillDUSALA: Foundation DU: Length


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Folio 22 Verso

NEW WORDS ?

ETAHATA

GUTINI

PALIVARA

DEPHALI

KERA

DUNGALA

Documents

VAASTUSHASTRA: Innovations in Residential buildings of Malla period SUDARSHAN RAJ TIWARI International Conference on TIM 2012 NEPAL 1