Secular Architecture in Classical Vastu Texts

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Alongside temple and palace architecture, Vastu texts also deal with secular architecture, like common people's residences, town and road planning, schools, etc. We also see it mentioned in the Puranas, the Samhitas, and the Arthashastra, illustrating the importance of such architecture during that time. However, while much has been written on the architecture of temples and palaces in medieval India, scholarly texts on secular architecture are few and far between. This book attempts to rectify this issue by giving an overview of secular architecture from the 5th to the 15th century AD. Texts from the 5th and 6th century already show a strong prevalence of the scientific study of such architecture. In the course of time, secular architecture progressed in leaps and bounds.

We take a journey through the ages from the 5th century to the 15th century AD, where we see the steady progress of the science of architecture.

Graduating from Lady Brabourne College in 1967, Dr. Anasuya Bhowmik received her M.A. in Sanskrit from Calcutta University in 1969, and her Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Jadavpur University in 1991. Over the years, she developed a keen interest in ancient architecture and manuscripts. She has previously written the books Glimpses of Indian Architecture, Vahni Purana, and Vastumandanam. She has received the 'Prajnacarya' from the Bangiya Purana Parishat, Nadia, West Bengal. She has been a part of the Indian delegation at DICSEP-5, held in Croatia in August 2008.

Architecture as a specialized branch of academic discipline was added much later to the domain of formal cultivation of history, culture and human knowledge. But the essence of it went with the evolution of ideas of early human beings the moment their set- tled life began on space. Gradually, their various perceptions were reflected in the ancient texts which were found as documentary evidences. The history of Indian architecture is one such area of research investigation.

This book is an attempt by the author to study the 'secular archi- tecture' based on the classical texts of Puranas and other source materials. She tried to bring out through this exploratory study the characteristics of these so called secular elements in the develop- ment of ideas in architecture in ancient India as evinced through these core documents, manuscripts and archival materials.

The scholars and researchers in this special field of investigation, I believe, will be much benefited by this valuable publication of the Asiatic Society.

Architecture, the art and technique designing the buildings, addresses specifically the spatial relationship along with the orientation through an innovative approach to the functional requirements of the habitation in order to give a sense of place within its surroundings both physically and socially.

""Architecture, [the art of civil engineering] is primarily utilitarian, both in concept and in practice, and at the same time it is expected to satisfy our aesthetic sense. A structure which has any pretence to architectural quality must satisfy both these aspects of utility and of beauty"", writes K. R. Pisharoti in the article 'Some Architectural Contributions of Kerala' (Ref. p. 250 of The Cultural Heritage of India, vol. VII, Part I). There is another way of looking at architecture which is not just about recognition, identification and empirical observation, but which prefers explanation, interpretation and speculation also.

The origin of architecture has long fascinated the Indian history and civilisation. First evidence on civil architecture and township noticed in the excavated township of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, under Indus Valley civilisation, dated 2600 to 900 B.C. In that township as excavated, different types of halls and houses, roads, proper drainage system etc. could be noticed justifying thereby the history of civil architecture in India to be a very old one, inspired for the spirit of complete harmony of both aesthetic and utilitarian ends.

The term 'secular' means not religious, sacred or monastic not ecclesiastical but being concerned with the affairs of this world. Webster's New Explorer Dictionary (2005) explains the term secular as ""lasting or going on for ages or an indefinitely long time."" Architecture, the art of civil engineering, is one of the important domains where the Indian culture has found expression through ages or centuries from very ancient times.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages