Introduction to Indian Traditional Architecture:

Case Mayamatam

Balaji Venkatachary

10th November, 2016

 Text / Oral
Theory
tradition

Practice

Cycle of Indian Traditional Architecture

Oral tradition and Textual tradition
Diversity in Indian texts
According to P.K. Acarya (Author and Translator of Manasara, 1933)

there are about 300 texts on architecture in India in different

languages. Varahamihira's Brhatsamhita (106 chapters) of 6th

century A.D. gives an authoritative treatment on building temples and

houses, in two separate chapters. Isanagurudevapaddhati,

Kamikagama, Samaranganasutradhara, Mayamata, and Manasara

are some of the compilations on Indian architecture (Vastuviaya).

1. Shilpa Shastra (Technical treatises)
2. Vastu Shastra / Vastu Vidya
Samhita (Treatise)
Chandrika (Commentary)
Lakshana (Manual)
Shastra (Theory)
Tattva (Philosophy)
Sutra (Guidelines)
Agama (Tradition)
Paddhati (Method)
Manasara
Brhat samhita
Mayamata
Prasada Lakshana
Tachchu sastra (primarily home design for families)
Tantrasamucchaya
Manushyalaya Chandrika
Manasollasa (chapters on house layout)
Raja griha nirmana (architecture and construction principles for royal
palaces)
Vastu tattva
Vastu purusha lakshana
Silpartha sastra
Samarangana Sutradhara
What does the text consist of?

 Verses, not graphics (Often general)

 Typologies

 Elements

 Principles

 Proportions and not scale

 Cues for exploration

 Rituals

 Benefits and effects

Principles are cultural, philosophical
and structural than climatic
Indian Aesthetics and Philosophy
(Cognitive process)
Scope for innovation within an
aesthetic framework
THE FIVE-STOREY TEMPLE (PAÑCABHŪMIKA-PRĀSĀDA), FROM THE
SAMARĀṅGAṇASŪTRADHĀRA, CHAPTER 62

pañcabhaumam atha brūmaḥ prāsādaṁ rājapūjitam || 106 ||

We will now explain the five-storeyed temple, worshipped by kings.
vistāreṇa vidhātavyaḥ sa hastra(stā)n ekaviṁśatim | vibhājayet tathotsedhaṁ
pādonatriśataṁ karān || 107 ||
107. It should be built with a width of twenty-one cubits.18 One should then divide its
elevation into thirty cubits minus a quarter.
pīṭhaṁ bhāgadvayaṁ sārdhaṁ jaṅghā(sārāmrā)19 tribhāgikī | kurvīta kūṭaprastāraṁ
sārdhahastaṁ ca buddhimān || 108 ||
108. The pīṭha (base) is two bhāgas and a half, the jaṅghā (wall zone) is three bhāgas. The
intelligent should construct a kūṭaprastāra of one and half cubits.
jaṅghā dvitīyā kartavyā hastatritayam ucchritā | bhūyo’pi kūṭaprastāraṁ sārdhahastaṁ
prakalpayet || 109 ||
Interpretations of temple Plan forms from Sanskrit texts.
Source: Adam Hardy
The five Pithas of the
Samarangana
Source: Adam Hardy
The five-storey temple (Panchabhumika-prasada) from the general description, three alternative
interpretations. Source: Adam Hardy
Source: Ashish Nangia
Experiments in interpreting temple forms from Sanskrit texts.
Source: Adam Hardy
Multimedia display conceived by Adam Hardy, created for
'India: the Art of the Temple', an exhibition of Indian art from the
British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum , held in
Shanghai (4 August and 15 November 2010)
Mayamata
 Ascribed to Muni Mayan
 South Indian architectural treatise (Mostly from the Tamil area)
 Sanskrit text drafted from Chola period
 Identified as a Vastusastra - a treatise on dwelling
 Translated into French, Tamil and English
(Dr. Bruno Dagens, Institut Francais d’Indologie
V. Ganapathi Sthapathi)
 About 3300 verses and divided into 36 chapters
 Mayamata is arranged in three large sections:
 First (Chap. 1-10) deals with dwelling sites
 Second (Chap. 11-30) with buildings
 Third (Chap. 31-36), with the last two vastu, vehicles and
seats
 Mayamata defines the vastu as "anywhere where immortals or
mortals live" (2.1)
 Concept of housing is very wide and is divided into four categories:
(a) The Earth (considered as original dwelling), (b) Buildings, (c )
Vehicles and (d) Seats
 Iconography
Chapters concerning Architecture

1. System of measurements and quality of the architects (Chap. 5)

2. Orientation and laying-out (Chap. 6-7)
3. Offerings to the gods of the site (Chap. 8)
4. Foundation deposit (Chap. 12)
5. Joinery (Chap. 17)
6. Rites for the end of the construction of a temple and for the first
entry into a house (Chap. 18 and 28)
7. Renovation work and associated rites (Chap. 35).
Team of people (Mayamata: V.14:25)

Sthapati (Head Architect)

Sutragrahin (Surveyor)

Vardhaki (Masonry and Painting)

Takshaka (Stone cutter and carpenter)

Site Division for building Yamasutra

Brahmasutra
Graphical interpretation of nine temple
forms described in Mayamata
Interpretation of three-storey Svastika-vimana described in the Mayamata.
Source: Adam Hardy
Source: Bryce Andrews
Source: Bryce Andrews
Source: Bryce Andrews
And therefore traditional architecture is only a framework
and theory. Not a rigid set of instructions.

Historical Vs Traditional Vs Modern studio Architecture.

Timeless.

Still valid.
Summary
SUGGESTED READINGS

SL BOOK AUTHOR
1 Mayamata: An Indian Treatise on Housing Bruno Dagens
Architecture and Iconography
2 The Temple Architecture of India Adam Hardy
3 Theory and Practice of Temple Architecture in Adam Hardy
Medieval India
Introduction to Indian Traditional Architecture:
Case Mayamatam

Balaji Venkatachary

10th November, 2016