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TempleArchitectureDevalayaVastuPartTwo(2
Of9)
08SEP
TempleandTownship

Madurai
TheIndiantempleisnotabuilding;itisanimage,aconceptionofdivinity.Whileitisboth
naturalandnecessaryfortheimagetobeprojectedintoaspatialarrangementandconcretized
byastructuralmovement,theimagedoesnotdependuponsuchactivitiesforitscontinuance.
Thetempleisanenclosuretotheicon,andcentresroundtheicon.Atemplemustbebuiltforthe
icon,andnotanicongotreadyforthetemples,foratempleisreallyanoutgrowthoftheicon,an
imageoftheicon.Onecannotthinkofatemplewithoutanidol.
Thetempleconstructionprocessinvolvesseveralsteps.Theprocedureiscrypticallyexpressedas
KarshanadiPratisthantam,meaningbeginningwithKarshanaandendingwithPratistha.The
detailsofthestepsinvolvedvaryfromoneschoolofAgamatoanother;butbroadlythesearethe
stepsintempleconstruction:

Bhupariksha:Examiningandchoosinglocationandsoilfortempleandtown.Thelandshouldbe

Bhupariksha:Examiningandchoosinglocationandsoilfortempleandtown.Thelandshouldbe
fertileandsoilsuitable.
Silapariksha:Examiningandchoosingmaterialforimage
Karshana:Cornorsomeothercropisgrownintheplacefirstandisfedtocows.Thenthe
locationisfitfortown/templeconstruction.
Vastupuja:Ritualtopropitiatevastudevata.
Salyodhara:Undesiredthingslikebonesaredugoutandremoved.
Adyestaka:Layingdownthefirststone
Nirmana:Thenfoundationislaidandlandispurifiedbysprinklingwater.Apitisdug,water
mixedwithnavaratnas,navadhanyas,navakhanijasisthenputinandpitisfilled.Thenthetempleis
constructed.
Murdhestakasthapana:Placingthetopstoneovertheprakara,gopuraetc.Thisagaininvolves
creatingcavitiesfilledwithgemsmineralsseedsetc.andthenthepinnaclesareplaced.
Garbhanyasa:Apotmadeoffivemetals(pancalohakalasasthapana)isinstalledattheplaceofmain
deity.
Sthapana:Thenthemaindeityisinstalled.
Pratistha:Themaindeityisthenchargedwithlife/godness.
Letusnowtrytobrieflygooversomesignificantstagescommonlyinvolvedintemple
construction,inasummaryform.
Sthala(templesite)
Thetempleconstructionprojectbeginswiththeappointmentofateamofexpertsheadedbya
qualifiedandanexperiencedSthapati,theAcharya,thedirectorforthetempleconstruction
projectandtheShilpi(sculptor).Theyarethekeyfiguresintheconstructionofatemple.The
firststepis,ofcourse,tolookforapropersite.Thisinvolvesexaminationofallaspectsrelating
tothelocation,theextent,thequalityofSoil,thewatersource,theenvironmentandastrological
suitabilityofthesite.Thiselongatedprocessgoesbythename:Bhupariksha.
TheTempleconstruction,inthepast,oftenbeganasthenucleusofanewvillageoratownship
whichwentbynamessuchasgrama,kheta,kharvata,durga,pura,nagaraetc.Mansaraexplains
thattheproposedsiteforsettingupatownshipshouldbedeterminedbyitssmell,taste,shape
anddirection,soundandtouch.Thepreferredsitesforsuchtownshipsshouldbealongthe
banksofariverornearatankortheseashore.Else,thewatertablehadtobeatabouteightfeet
(heightofapersonstandingwithraisedarms).Ifthesitewaslocatedalongtheriverbank,the
townshiphadtobeontheconvexsideoftheriverbend.Forinstance,theancientcityof
MaduraiwaslocatedalongtheVaigai;theholycityofVaranasiissituatedalongtheconvexside
oftheriverGangaandpresentsasemilunarphase.

Thetemperatureshadtobemodestinsummersandwinters(sukhasamsparsa).Thesiteswith
inclination(slope)towardsitsEasternortheNorthernside,toreceivesunlight,werepreferred;
orthesitehadtohaveequalelevationonallthesides.Thesiteslocatedtothewestofahillwere
avoided.
TheVillageboundariesshouldalwaysbemarkedbyrivers,hills,bulbousplanes,caves,artificial
buildings,ortreessuchasmilkytrees.Etc.

Theground(Desha)isclassifiedintothreecategoriesonthebasisofsixteencriteriaofphysical
featuresoftheland(deshabhumi).Thethreebroadcategoriesare:theBarrenlandwherewarm
windsblowisJangala;thesecondisAnupa,beautifulcountrysidewithmoderateclimateand
watersources;andthethirdSadharanaisoftheaveragequalityconsistingvaststretchesof
unusedlandareas.ThebestlandisAnupa,whichaboundsinlotusandlilies(supadma)and
whichinclinestowardseastornorth.
Asregardsthecolorsofthesoil,thecolorscouldbewhite,yellow,redorblack.Alandwhich
aboundsinanyoneofthesecolorsispreferable;acombinationofcolors,mixedcolorsaretobe
avoided.Sandysoilswithassuredsupplyofwaterarepreferable.
Thesoilshouldhavepleasantodorasofflowers,ofgrains;ofghee,ofcowurineetc.Thesoils
withobnoxiousodorasofexcreta,deadbones,ofcorpse,offermentedliquoretcshouldbe
avoided.
Thetasteofthesoiltooshouldbeacceptable.Thetasteofsweetissaidtobebest.Theothersin
orderareastringent(kashaya),bitterandpungent.Thesoilstastingsour,saltyshouldbe
avoided.

Asregardsthesoundtestedbypoundingthesoil,thesoilsgivingoutsoundsofmusical
instrumentslikedrums(mridanga),neighingofhorse,orlikewavesoftheseaareconsidered
best.Thenextinorderisthesoilsthatsoundlikebirds,animalslikesheep,goatsetc.And,the
soilsthatsoundlikedonkey,drainage,brokenpotetcareto,beavoided.
Thesoilshouldbepleasanttotouch;warminwinter,coolinsummerandoneshouldgenerally
evokeahappyfeeling.
Thesiteswhichwereearliergraveyardsorthelandbloatedlikethebellyofsickanimal,broken
upwithdeadroots,bones,ash,orrottenmaterialshouldbeavoided.
Therealsoothertestsfordeterminingthestrengthofthesoilbydiggingtestpits,fillingthem
withwaterordrivingpegsatvariouspointsarediscussedinvarioustexts.
Thesiteshouldhaveintheirsurroundingsmilkytrees(fourvarietyoftreeshavingmilky
sap:nigrodha,oudumbara,ashvattaandmadhuka),treesbearingfruitandflowers;andalsoplentyof
antimalarialNeem(nimba)trees.ThesiteshouldbesuitableforgrowingTulasi,Kusha,Dharba,
Vishnukrantha,HibiscusandDhruvagrassesandflowers.
Thesiteshouldbelargeandshouldevokepleasantfeelings(manorama)andshouldgenerallybe
acceptabletoall.
TownshipLayout
TheShilpatextShivaprakashainitschaptertitledvastubhumibedha,describessixteen
(Shodasha)typesoftemplelayouts:theSquare(Chandura);Rectangle(Agatra);Trapezium(with
unevensideslikeacartshakata);Circle(Vritta);Elliptical(krittavritta);triangular(dwaja);
diamondorrhombus(vajra);Arrow(shara);umbrella(chatra);fish(meena);backofatortoise
(kurma);conch(shanka);crescent(ardhachandra);pot(kumbha);sword(khadga);andlotus(kamala).

Theselayoutshavespecificapplications;andarenottobeusedgenerally.Forinstance:theback
ofatortoise(kurma),pot(kumbha),conch(shanka)andlotus(kamala)arerecommendedonlyfor
VishnuandShivatemples.SimilarlytheSquare(Chandura),Rectangle(Agatra),fish(meena),

diamondorrhombus(vajra)andsword(khadga)arerecommendedforDevitemples.Therestof
thelayoutsareforother(lesser)deities.
Butalltextsgenerallyagreethatthesquareortherectangularshapeoflayoutarethebestand
mostauspicious.VarahasamhitacallssuchlayoutsasSiddhabhumi,thebestofall.Incasethe
layoutisrectangular,theNorthSouthdimensionshouldbegreaterthanEastwestdimension.It
isalsosaid,itwouldbebetteriftheelevationonthewestortheSouthisslightlyhigher.
Generally,theVastuShastrarecommendsfivetypesoftownshapes:theSquare(Chandura);
Rectangle(Agatra);Circle(Vritta);Elliptical(krittavritta);andcircular(Gola).Adiamondora
rhombusshapeisnotrecommended.Abowshapedtownisconsideredpowerful.Thesquare
shapeisconsideredsecureandamenabletoprogress.
Theplanforthevillageorthetownshipcommenceswithplacingthetemplerightatthecentre
andexpandingthelayoutinlayersandlayersofstreets,andentrances,inaccordancewiththe
appropriateVastuMandala.Theentiretownshipislaidoutintheformofasquare.Ifasquare
shapeisnotpossiblethenthecitycouldbelaidoutinarectangularshape.Thefollowingarea
fewofthegeneralrecommendedfeaturesofacity.
1.Thecityshouldappearasabigsquareorarectanglecomprisingofsomanysmallsquares,
separatedbytheroadsthatrunnorthsouthandeastwest.
2.Fortifyingwallsshouldbebuiltroundthecity.
3.Thecitywouldbedividedintofourpartsbytwobroadroyalroads(Rajamarga)thatrun
northsouthandeastwest.Theirwidthwouldbeabout10to12meters.
4.Togoroundthecity,ontheinteriorsideofthefortifyingwall,abroadroadwouldbebuilt..
5.Thedwellingplacesofthepeopleofvariouscastesandprofessionsareidentified.
6.ThemarketswouldbeinNorthEastandprisonswouldbeinSouthWest.
7.PlacesliketheroyalpalacesshouldbeintheEast.
8.Andincaseoftemplecities,sayasinthecaseofSrirangamandMadurai,theprincipletemple
wouldbeatcentreofthecity,intheBrahmaSthana..And,therewouldbefortifyingwallsbuilt
roundit;andinwhichthetemplesofotherdeitiesareaccommodated..Andtheplacebeyond
thatfortifiedwallwouldbelongtothehumansandotherbeings.
ThebestexampleofsuchaformationistheancientcityofMadurai.Pleasecheckthissite
(Madurai,thearchitectureofacitybyJulianSSmith)forthelayoutmapoftheoldcity
(http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/34289/1/02639082.pdf).
AnotherexampleofawelllaidoutTempleTownisthatoftheTirumalaTirupati.Theholydeity
ofthetemplehasahistorydatingbacktoabouttwothousand.Thetemplestructuresaroundit,
developedinstages,spreadoverseveralcenturies.Thetempleisontopofahillseries,atabout
3200ftabovesealevel.But,thetemple,perse,islocatedinadepressionsurroundedbyraising
hillsonitsthreesides;leavingopenanapproachfromtheNorthEast.Thetempleisenclosedin
aboxlikeformation,withbulgingmoundsofaboutfifteenfeet,risinginallfourdirections.
Somepartsofthesemoundsnowbeenlevelledtomakeroomfordevelopments.

Theouterwallsofthetemple,enclosinganareaofmorethantwoacres,measure414feet(EW)
and263(NS),inlength.Thetemplecomplexisinarectangularshape,withthedepth(Aaya)
beingmorethanthebreadth(Vyaya)..Thestreets(maadas)runningaroundtheouterwallsof
templeareofunevenlength.TheNorthSouthstreetsrunningbythesideoftheouterwalls
measure800feet,inlength.Thewestsidestreet(behindthetemple)measures900feetinlength;
whiletheEastsidestreet(infrontofthetemple)measures750feet,includingtheswami
pushkaraniarea.

Thetempleisfacingeast.SwamiPushkaraniislocatedtothenortheastofthetemple.Awaterfall
isinthenortherndirectionandthewaterfromitisusedfortheholybathofthemaindeityevery
day.TheKitchenisinSoutheast,whilethetemplestorehousesareintheNorthWestandNorth
side.

(http://ssubbanna.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/tirupati1.jpg)
Theouterwallsofthetemple,enclosinganareaofmorethantwoacres,measure414feet(EW)
and263(NS),inlength.Thetemplecomplexisinarectangularshape,withthedepth(Aaya)
beingmorethanthebreadth(Vyaya)..Thestreets(maadas)runningaroundtheouterwallsof
templeareofunevenlength.TheNorthSouthstreetsrunningbythesideoftheouterwalls
measure800feet,inlength.Thewestsidestreet(behindthetemple)measures900feetinlength;
whiletheEastsidestreet(infrontofthetemple)measures750feet,includingtheswami
pushkaraniarea.
Thetemplefaceseastandhasonlyoneentrance,about11feetwide.Therearethreeenclosures
orPradakshinapathas,forcircumambulatingthetemple.ThemainentranceleadsintoSampangi
Pradkshina,ofabout120feetindepth.Thereareareanumberofpavilionswithinthis

enclosure,;suchasPrtathimamantapa,Rangamantapa,Tirumalarayamantapaandothers.The
DwajasthambaisinfrontoftheTirumalarayamantapa.Presentlythisenclosureisclosedto
pilgrims.
TheSecondenclosureistheVimanaPradakshina,measuringabout250feet(EW)and160feet(N
S).ThisenclosurecontainsshrinestohouseVaradaraja,andnarasimha.TheKalyana
mantapa(8036)andkitchenarealsohere.

ThethirdenclosureistheMukkotiPradkshina,whichenclosesthesanctum.Presently,itis
ratherdifficulttoidentifyitasanenclosure.Thewidthoftheenclosureisuneven;andthe
enclosureisopenononlythreesides.Thepathinthesouth(ontherightsideofthedeity)is
sevenfeetwideandtwentyfeetlong;whilethepathontheotherside(towardstheleftofthe
deity)isseventeenfeetwideandninetytwoandhalffeetlong.Thisskewedpositionofthe
sanctumwithintheBrahmabaghawasperhapstosatisfytherequirementsofthetemplevastu
norms.
InthecaseofSriRangamanentiretownshipwasplacedwithinthewelllaidoutrectangular
templecomplex.
Theprakarasorwallsthatfortifythetemplemayvaryinsizeandnumberaccordingtothe
dimensionsofthetemple.Largertemples,liketheoneinSriRangam,aresometimessurrounded
byuptosevenconcentricwalls,saidtorepresentthesevenlayersofmatterearth,water,fire,
air,either,mindandintelligencethatcovertheoriginalconsciousnessofthelivingentitiesinthe
materialworld.

JaipurwasanothercitywhichwaslaidoutaccordingtoVastuShastra,withthePalaceand
templeatthecentre;androadswithEastwestandNorthSouthorientation.Roadsrunningin
Easternaxisensurepurificationbysunrays;andtheroadsrunningNorthSouthensure
circulationofairandcooleratmosphere.

VastuPurushaMandalaforthetownship
TostartwiththeVastumandalaoftheentirevillageneedstobedrawnandthelocationofthe
templestogods,Vishnuandothersbefixed.Here,thelayoutoftown,itssize,breadthof
differentlevelsofstreets,locationsandsizesoffacilitieslikewatertanksaredeterminedbased
onthesizeoftown.Thenthelocationoftemple(Brahmasthana)inthetownisdecided.Templeis
usuallyinthecenterofvillage.Theentirearrangementiscalledgramavinyasa.Thethumbruleis
,theareademarcatedforthetempleatthecentreshouldatleastbe1/9thofthetotalareaofthe
proposedtownship.

Thereare,differenttypesofVastuPurushaMandalasdependingupontheirapplicationssuchas
residentialbuildings,palaces,auditoriums,templesetc.About32typesofVastuPurusha
mandalasareenumerated,thesimplestamongthemiswithonesquare.Butthemostcommon
onesarethosewith64squares(padas),81padasand256padas.Theyare
calledManduka,paramasaayikaandtriyuta,respectively.AsforMandukaMandala(88),the
wholesquarewouldbedividedbythetwoaxesthatgoNorthsouthandEastwest.Inthecase
ofParamaSaayikaMandala(99),theentiresquirewouldbeunevenlydivided.

Amongthese,thedifferenttextssuchasMarichi,MayamataandVastuVidyahavetheirslight

Amongthese,thedifferenttextssuchasMarichi,MayamataandVastuVidyahavetheirslight
variations.TosummarizetheirpositiononthequestionoflocatingtheVishnutemplewithinthe
town;ashrinemaybeconstructedinthecentreofthetownshiporonthewesternside;but
alwaysfacingthetown.Whenitisinthecentre,thesiteplanshouldprovideforlocatingthe
shrineattheNorthwesterndirectionwithintheBrahmabagha.TheVishnuiconmaybeinany
posture:standing,sittingorrecumbent.Vishnumaybesingleoraccompaniedbythetwo
Devis.ThesanctummayhouseonlytheDhruvaandKautukaBheru(immobile)idols.Itisbestif
thetemplecomplexhasnine,sixorfiveformsofVishnuinstalled,ifonecanafford;else,asingle
iconofVishnuwouldsuffice.
Orientationofthetemplesinexistingtowns

Asregardsconstructingtemplesandtheirorientationinalreadyexistingvillageortownsthree
principlesaregenerallyfollowed:First,thetempleshouldfacetherisingSunintheeast.Second,
thetempleshouldfacethecentreofthetownorvillage.Third,thedeityinapeaceful(shanta)
aspectshouldbelocatedin,andfacingtowardstheplacewherepeoplelive,andwrathful(urga)
aspectshouldbesituatedoutsideandfacingawayfromwherepeoplelive.
Incertainexceptionalcasesatemplemayfacesouth,provideditfacesanaturalformationsaya
hillorawaterbody.
ThetemplesandimagestobeturnedawayincludeNarasimhaandRudra.Sivashouldbeturned
awayexceptwhensituatedintheeastorwest.TheproperplaceforSivatemplesisinforestsand
mountainsaccordingtoonetext.
ThedirectionofatempleisaccordingtothistripleorientationtowardstheSun,towardsthe
centre,towardsman.Themajorityofthepreservedtemplesdofacetheeast,butitisnot
necessarythattheyphysicallymust.Theotherdirectionscanbedescribedasbeingeast.Tothe
tantricswhohavesomeobscuresymbolismaboutSunriseintheeast,south,westandnorth
relativetoonesspiritualevolution;anydirectionmayrepresenteast.
Mosttemplesfaceeast,westisnextbest,evensouthispermissiblebuttheydefinitelyshouldnot
facethenorth.

Whereitisimpossible,forsomereason,forthetempletofacethetown,thisisremediedby
paintinganexactlikenessofthesacredimageintheGarbhagrhauponthewallofthetemple
facingthedesiredwaytowardsthevillage.

Sources:
A.MapsofMaduraiandSriRangam
BycourtesyofKulturinIndien(http://www.kulturinasien.de/Indien/seite239.htm)
Madurai,IndiaarchitectureofacitybyJulianSSmith
http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/34289/1/02639082.pdf
(http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/34289/1/02639082.pdf)
B.OtherpicturesfromInternet.
C.DevalayaVastuByProf.SKRRao
16Comments
PostedbysreenivasaraosonSeptember8,2012inTempleArchitecture
Tags:DevalayaVastu,TempleArchitecture,Templelayout

16responsestoTempleArchitectureDevalayaVastuPart
Two(2Of9)
RamachandraBudihal
August14,2013at7:06pm
Fantasticcompilation..kudos..
Reply
sreenivasaraos

August15,2013at1:36am
DearRamachandra,thankyouforthevisitandfortheappreciation.
Pleasedoreadtheotherarticlesintheseriesandletmeknow.
HappyIndependenceDay.
Regards
Reply
http://sns.51yycn.net/space.php?uid=5&do=blog&id=16
August27,2014at9:34am
Ifsomeonedesirestobeupdatedwithmostuptodatetechnologies
afterwardhemustbepayavisitthissiteandbe
uptodateeveryday.
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September22,2014at3:55am
Thanksforthevisit,appreciationandtherecommendation.
Cheers
Reply
flyingkamas
September3,2014at3:55am
IdontevenknowhowIendeduphere,butI
thoughtthispostwasgreat.Idonotknowwhoyouarebutcertainlyyouregoingtoa
famousbloggerifyouarenotalready Cheers!
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September6,2014at3:49am
ThankyouKamasfortheappreciation.
YouareWelcome
Regards
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September22,2014at3:54am

Thanksforthevisitandtheappreciation.
Keepvisiting
Cheers
Reply
homephilipphillips
September8,2014at3:13pm
Imcurioustofindoutwhatblogplatformyoureutilizing?
Imexperiencingsomesmallsecurityissueswithmylatestblogand
Idliketofindsomethingmoresafe.Doyouhave
anysolutions?
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September22,2014at3:54am
I,ofcourse,blogonWordPressplatform.Thatisevident.
Pleasegetintouchwiththesitemanagersforassistance.
Theyarequiteprompt.
Cheers
Reply
Pingback:ASimpleGuidetoTemplesandIdolWorship|ASRKHaven
sreenivasaraos
September22,2014at3:51am
Thanks.
Ienjoyedreadingwellwritten/documentedarticle.
Congrats
Cheers
Reply
acnenomorepdf
September21,2014at12:33pm
Thanks,Iverecentlybeensearchingforinfoapproximately
thissubjectforagesandyoursistheebestIhavediscoveredsofar.
But,whatabouttheconclusion?Areyoupositiveaboutthesource?
Reply

sreenivasaraos
September22,2014at3:50am
Thanksforthevisitandtheappreciation.Pleasedoreadtheentireseriesofarticles.That
mighthelpyoubetter.
Yes;thearticlesarebasedonoldtextsandbooksofreputedauthors,whichIregardas
authentic.
IdidnotquiteunderstandtheremarkaboutconclusionPleaseamplify.
Regards
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September25,2014at3:08pm
Thanks
Icouldnotmakeoutthelatterpartofthecomment.
Pleaseclarify.
Regards
Reply
zniczbialapiska.pl
September25,2014at1:43am
Excellentwayofdescribing,andpleasantpost
toobtainfactsregardingmypresentationsubject
matter,whichiamgoingtopresentinacademy.
Reply
sreenivasaraos
September25,2014at2:43pm
Thankyoufortheappreciation.
Gladtolearnthatyoufoundthisuseful.
\Pleasedoreadtheotherarticlesintheseries
asalsothoseonthesubjectscategorizedonyourrightsideonthewebpage.
Regards
Reply

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