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Vedic Architecture: V .Surya Teja
Vedic Architecture: V .Surya Teja
V .surya teja
Vastupurusa
• For the basis of Hindú architecture often reference is made to Vastupurusa or “the spirit
of the site”. One legend explains this as follows. There was an evil demigod (bhuta) who
was born during Siva’s fight with the Asur Andhaka. This bhuta possessed a terrifying
countenance and an insatiable hunger. The legend goes that having done great penance,
the bhuta won a boon from Siva that allowed him to swallow the three worlds that
constitute the Hindu cosmos. As this being stretched himself and began to occupy the
heavens, he fell flat on the earth. The various gods and demigods seized this opportunity
and pinned various parts of his body to the ground, rendering him helpless. This being
came to be called Vast (or Vastupurusa) because the gods and demigods managed to
lodge themselves on his body. Legends hold that the deities, in pinning him down,
occupied different parts of his body and continued to reside there (Figure1). In order to
satisfy his hunger, Brahma ordained that he receive offerings from people on building
sites before construction. The body of the Vastupurusa is supposed to be sensitive at a
number of points called marmas. The well-being of the Vastupurusa assures the well-
being of the building and, by implication, its owner. An important criterion for any
building, therefore, is to avoid injury to the marmas located on the body of the
Vastupurusa. To ensure that this is achieved, texts prohibit any direct construction upon
the marmas themselves. The marmas are specifically said to lie at the intersection of
major diagonals, seen as the veins (siras or nadis) of the purusa.
Vedic architecture or vaasthu shastra
• To define Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu , which means physical environment and Shastra
meaning knowledge or principles, is one of the traditional Hindu canons of town
planning and architecture.Its current popularity stems from its focus on a
wholesome approach to space and form. A home can be so much more — it can
be a special space that creates an influence of good health, happiness, family
harmony and enlightenment. Vedic architecture reliably gives our homes these
influences by using laws of nature that connect individual intellingence with
cosmic intelligence.
• Vastu Shastra in essence unifies many subjects together like science, art,
astronomy and astrology. It can also be said as an ancient mystic science that was
used for designing and building the ancient palaces . Vastu Shastra according to
believers helps one to make lives better by securing the living space and
preventing things from going wrong.
• Vaastu as the science of direction , combines all the five elements of nature and
balances them with an individual and the material. The five elements namely
Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space .According to scriptures , ancient sages and seers
had known the secrets of using all the five elements of this universe and their
special characteristics and influences such as the magnetic field, gravitational
effect etc.
of Earth, the galaxy in the sky, the directions and velocity of the winds, light and heat
of the Sun , including the effects of its Ultra-Violet and Infra-Red rays, the volume and
intensity of rainfall etc.
• This knowledge formed the base for what evolved as Vaastu Shastra. The five
elements otherwise also called "Paanchbhootas" of the nature , pave the way for
enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness in an enlightened
environment.
• Most importantly Vaastu extracts the positive energies of the five basic elements
of nature - the solar energy of sun, lunar energy of moon, wind energy, magnetic
effects of earth and heat energy of fire and balances them to bring harmony into
the life of a person planning to build or live on a premises.
• There are four categories of Vaastu
• 1, The Earth site or Bhoomi, which is the principle dwelling place on which
everything rests
• 2, The structure or the Prasada, which would be the building
• 3, Moving vehicles or Yaana
• 4, Furniture or Sayana..
• So, the principles of Vaastu Shastra extend from the macro level to the micro level
which includes site selection, site planning and orientation. It also deals with
zoning and disposition of rooms, proportional relationships between the various
parts of buildings and the character of the building.
• However in today's age & time with growing urbanisation, paucity of space and
• significantly the rampant sense of faithlessness in anything that modern science
fails to explain, it is practically impossible to even dream of a home or office
confirming to the laws of "Vaastu". Its current popularity stems from its focus on a
wholesome approach to space and form. Some perfect Examples of Ancient
Buildings that have been built as per Vaastu :- The TajMahal - Agra , India
• Prashanti Nilayam - Puttaparthi , India
• The temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara - Tirupati, India.
• Nirmal Hriday Bhawan - Calcutta (Mother Teresa) , India.
• Vivekananda Rock Memorial - Cape Camorin( Kanyakumari) , India.
• Vijaynagar Steel Plant - Torangallu , India
• The Sun Temple in Konarak -Orissa ,India is a perfect example of Vaastu
Buddhist architecture
history
• Buddhist religious architecture developed in South Asia in the 3rd century BCE.
• Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of early
Buddhism: monasteries (viharas), stupas, and temples (Chaitya grihas).
• Viharas initially were only temporary shelters used by wandering monks during the
rainy season, but later were developed to accommodate the growing and
increasingly formalised Buddhist monasticism. An existing example is at Nalanda
(Bihar). A distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the former and present
Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas are dzongs.
• The initial function of a stupa was the veneration and safe-guarding of the relics of
the Buddha. The earliest surviving example of a stupa is in Sanchi (Madhya
Pradesh).
• In accordance with changes in religious practice, stupas were gradually
incorporated into chaitya-grihas (temple halls). These reached their high point in
the 1st century BC, exemplified by the cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora
(Maharashtra). The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar is another well
known example.
• The Pagoda is an evolution of the Indian stupa
The Buddhist architecture has its root been mere spectators of different eras
deeply implanted in the Indian soil- the quietly speaks about the phases of the
birthplace of the Buddha's teachings. Buddhist stages. "The shape of the stupa
The Buddhist architecture began with represents the Buddha, crowned and
the development of various symbols, sitting in meditation posture on a lion
representing aspects of the Buddha's throne. His crown is the top of the spire;
life (563 BCE - 483 BCE). For the first his head is the square at the spire's base;
time, it was the Indian emperor Ashoka, his body is the vase shape; his legs are the
who not only established Buddhism as four steps of the lower terrace; and the
the state religion of his large Magadh base is his throne."
empire, but also opted for the
architectural monuments to spread
Buddhism in different places. Distinctive
Buddhist architectural structures and
sculptures such as Stupas, Pagodas,
monasteries and Caves, which have
THE GREAT SANCHI STUPA
• The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi is the oldest from the railing enclosing stupa.
stone structure in India and was • The ambulatory or pradakshina path is
originally commissioned by the fenced by railing 3.35m high all around
emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd the stupa.
century BCE. • Outside the railing there once stood
• Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical the famous ashoka pillar, the fragments
brick structure built over the relics of of which are noticed now to the right
the Buddha. of southern torana
• It was crowned by the chatra, a
parasol-like structure symbolizing high
rank, which was intended to honour
and shelter the relics.
• There are four gateways known as
‘TORANAS’ at the cardinal points to the
compass and are slightly staggered
Torana
• Toranas, the entrance to the ambulatory were accepted as the
traditional type of ceremonial potals and excel the array of
architectural embellishment.
• Torana consists of two square uprite columns with capital of lion or
elephant heads denoting strength.
• These columns support three separate horizontal panels between each
of which is a row of ornamental balusters.
• These panels are supported by atlantean figures, a group of dwarfs,
lions and elephant.
• The total height of this erection is somewhat 10.36m with a width of
3m
Railing or Balustrade
• The vedica or railing consists of upright octagonal plan 45cm in diameter spaced at
60 to 90cm from each other and connected by three lens shaped horizontals called
‘suchi’ or needles 60cm deep being threaded through the holes of the upright.
• The top horizontal bar is provided with coping to drain out rain water.
STAMBHAS OR LATS
The end