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The main streets were aligned in the East-West to get the roads purified by the Sun’s rays; while the short roads were aligned North-South. The roads running round the village called ‘Mangala Vithi’ were reserved for priests.
 
The main streets were aligned in the East-West to get the roads purified by the Sun’s rays; while the short roads were aligned North-South. The roads running round the village called ‘Mangala Vithi’ were reserved for priests.
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According to Mansara, the probable site for the proposed settlement was to be examined and its fitness was determined from its smell, colour, shape, direction, sound and touch. For example:
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According to Mansara (मानसारम्), the probable site for the proposed settlement was to be examined and its fitness was determined from its smell, colour, shape, direction, sound and touch. For example:
 
* The ground should be smooth and levelled.
 
* The ground should be smooth and levelled.
 
* It should produce a hard sound.
 
* It should produce a hard sound.
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* Temperature of site should be moderate.
 
* Temperature of site should be moderate.
 
* Any site which does not possess such qualities is not fit for habitation.
 
* Any site which does not possess such qualities is not fit for habitation.
According to Mayashastra (another Vastu treatise''')''',
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According to Mayashastra (मयशास्त्रम्''')''',
 
* The ground must slope towards North-East.
 
* The ground must slope towards North-East.
* It should be fertile for all kinds of seeds.
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* It should be fertile for all kinds of seeds - सर्वबीजप्ररोहिणी | ''sarvabījaprarohiṇī'' (Maya. 3.3)<ref name=":0">T.Ganapati Sastri (1919), The [https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.23940 Mayamata] of Mayamuni, Trivandrum: Government Press.</ref>
 
* The earth of the site should have white, red, yellow or black colour.
 
* The earth of the site should have white, red, yellow or black colour.
 
* It should have a variety of tastes and should have a mixture of sand.
 
* It should have a variety of tastes and should have a mixture of sand.
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<blockquote>श्वेता रक्ता च पीता च कृष्णा कापोतसन्निभा । तिक्ता च कटुका चैव कषायलवणाम्लका ॥ मधुरा षड्रसोपेता सर्वसम्पत्करी धरा । Maya. 3.5-6<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''śvetā raktā ca pītā ca kr̥ṣṇā kāpotasannibhā । tiktā ca kaṭukā caiva kaṣāyalavaṇāmlakā ॥ madhurā ṣaḍrasopetā sarvasampatkarī dharā । Maya. 3.5''</blockquote>
 
* A southward slope was said to bring death; south-west brought suffering; and if town is built on western slope, it would lead to war.
 
* A southward slope was said to bring death; south-west brought suffering; and if town is built on western slope, it would lead to war.
* The predominant wind direction in India is from SW to NE direction.
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* The predominant wind direction in India is from South-West to North-East direction.
 
* If site slopes towards this direction, the houses will be exposed to storm and rain.
 
* If site slopes towards this direction, the houses will be exposed to storm and rain.
 
Hence such sites were rejected.
 
Hence such sites were rejected.
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As per Mayamata, the following rule was laid to determine the strength of soil. It says to dig a pit deep in the ground and again return earth into it. If the earth fills more than the pit, the ground is good. But if it falls short, then the ground is bad and so it is rejected.
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As per Mayamata (मयमतम्), the following rule was laid to determine the strength of soil. It says to dig a pit deep in the ground and again return earth into it. If the earth fills more than the pit, the ground is good. But if it falls short, then the ground is bad and so it is rejected.
    
Furthermore, following were some of the building bye-laws which were adopted in ancient India:
 
Furthermore, following were some of the building bye-laws which were adopted in ancient India:

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