Indian Architectural Theory: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya

Vibhuti Chakrabarti

Psychology Press, 1998 - Architecture - 212 pages

In this ground-breaking study the traditional Indian science of architecture and house-building, Vastu Vidya, is explored in terms of its secular uses, at the levels of both theory and contemporary practice. Vastu Vidya is treated as constituting a coherent and complete architectural programme, still of great relevance today. Chakrabarti draws on an impressive amount of textual material, much of it only available in Sanskrit, and presents several extremely valuable illustrations in support of the theories expounded. Each chapter deals with one architectural aspect, and chapters are divided into three sections. For each aspect, the first section explains the prescriptions of the traditional texts; the second section deals with the rather arbitrary use of that aspect by contemporary Indian architects trained in the western manner but striving to relate to Indian roots; while the last section in each chapter explores the selected use of that particular aspect by contemporary Vastu pundits, with their disregard for architectural idiom

Contents

• Lord Vishvakarma the divine architect: 4
• Sutrashtaka the tools of measurement: 5
• Determining the cardinal points with a Gnomon: 6
• Vastu Purusha Mandala of 91 squares: 7
• Seven and ten range houses 8 6 Seven and ten range houses 7 A seven range house with two courts: 9
• Two ways of looking at the 9 x 9 grid: 10
• Two kinds of planning principles: 11
• A Haveli in Rajasthan: 12
• A house in Kerala: 13
• Cover of a contemporary took on Vastu: 16
• Design of a modern house based on Vastu: 17
• Layout of a factory based on Vastu: 18
• CHAPTER ONE Architectural Team: 19
• CHAPTER TWO System of Measurement: 35
• Hasta as a unit of measurement: 39
• Sutrashtaka the eight tools of measurement: 40
• Hasta scal: 41
• Rashi Purusha: 46
• Nakshatra Purusha: 48
• Example of a Pindasarani table: 54
• CHAPTER THREE Vastu Purusha Mandala: 63
• Sakala Pechaka and Pitha Mandala: 65
• Mahapitha Mandala: 66
• Upapitha Mandala: 68
• Sthandila Mandala: 69
• 28a Paramashayika Mandala after Brihat Samhita: 70
• 28b Paramashayika Mandala after Manasara: 71
• 28c Paramashayika Mandala after Mayamata: 72
• 28d Paramashayika Mandala after Samarangana Sutradhara: 73
• 28e Paramashayika Mandala after Rajavallabha: 74
• Concentric divisions of the Paramashayika Mandala: 78
• 30a The graphic imagery of the Purusha: 83
• 30c The graphic imagery of the Purusha: 84
• 30d The graphic imagery of the Purusha: 85
• Geometric interpretations of the city of Jaipur and monuments: 88
• The nine squares in the design of Jawahar Kala Kendra: 90
• Concept of Vidyadhar Nagar: 92
• Play of the 3 x 3 Mandala IIT Bombay: 93
• Reinventing the Mandala: 95
• Suitable and prohibited locations for various functions: 98
• CHAPTER FOUR Orientation: 101
• Kaala Purusha: 102
• Energy channels of the subtle body: 103
• 9X9 Vastu Purusha Mandala: 104
• Orientation and Mandala: 110
• Superimposing the Mandala: 113
• Eight types of Aya: 116
• Division of site into eight quarters: 120
• Changes suggested for a factory: 124
• House designed by a master craftsman: 125
• Charles Correas plan for the Jawahar Kala Kendra Jaipur 1986: 127
• CHAPTER FIVE Site Considerations: 129
• CHAPTER six Building Materials: 141
• CHAPTER SEVEN Defining the Built Form: 155
• First set of sixteen Ekashala houses: 157
• Second set of Ekashala houses: 158
• Fourth set of Ekashala houses: 160
• Sixth set of Ekashala houses: 161
• Some Ekashala houses of Mayamata: 164
• Smallest type of one storeyed building by P K Acharya: 166
• Ashoka Hotel New Delhi: 171
• Comparing the built form of old and new: 176
• The modern auspicious house: 182
• Tools: 187
• Design of a border: 188
• Epilogue: 195
• Bibliography: 203
• Index: 209

Bibliographic information

• Title: Indian Architectural Theory: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya
• Author: Vibhuti Chakrabarti
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 1998
• ISBN: 0700711139, 9780700711130
• Length: 212 pages
• Subjects: Architecture / Design, Drafting, Drawing & Presentation