Vastu Shastra Overview

Overview of Vastu-Sastra

• Vastu-sastra encompasses more than just building layout; it includes town planning, architecture, and artistic creation.
• Known as Västu-vidya or Silpa-sastra, it represents a comprehensive science of design, fabrication, and construction.
• Architectural practices today can be viewed as modern equivalents of Vastu-sastra.

Core Elements of Vastu

• Four key components of Vastu are:
  • Bhümi (earth or ground) – regarded as the primary element.
  • Prasada (temple or palace).
  • Yãna (conveyance).
  • Sayana (couch).
• The integration of these elements is essential in Vastu principles.

Fundamental Principles

• Vastu focuses on aligning structures with natural forces and celestial influences like the sun and moon.
• Emphasizes ground preparation, geometric considerations, and optimal spatial arrangements.
• Aims to create buildings and towns that synchronize with their environment to fulfill their intended purposes.

Major Categories in Vastu-Sastra

• Town Planning:

  • Emphasizes villages as fundamental units of habitation and includes urban designs for towns, forts, and military sites.
  • Discusses land-use patterns and zoning for various developments.

• Civil Architecture:

  • Covers the design and construction of various public and private structures including houses, palaces, and community facilities.
  • Includes public infrastructures like meeting halls, libraries, and health centers.

• Temple Architecture:

  • Provides intricate designs for temples, detailing components like mandapa, garbhagrha, sikhara, and stupi.
  • Incorporates discussions on iconography concerning idol creation for worship.

• Artistic Creations:

  • Addresses aesthetic elements incorporated within structures like sculptures and paintings.
  • Discusses design elements of furniture, sleeping couches, and doors to enhance the overall beauty of the structures.

• Other Considerations:

  • Discusses qualifications of the chief architect (Sthapati) and roles of artisans within construction projects.
  • Highlights choice of building materials and includes the Vastu-purusa-mandala framework for site planning.

Eight Limbs of Vastu

• Classification of Vastu principles into eight parts, known as the eight limbs:
  • Vãstu
  • Silpin
  • Alankarana
  • Yajamãna
  • Sthapatya
  • Padavinyasa
  • Bhumi
  • Vastospati
• Each limb represents a specific aspect of the architectural and planning process within Vastu.