Changes

The nature and growth of towns then were chiefly governed by site conditions. The towns were generally situated on river banks, a flowing stream was always preferred for sanitary requirements.

The nature and growth of towns then were chiefly governed by site conditions. The towns were generally situated on river banks, a flowing stream was always preferred for sanitary requirements.

Mansara Shilpashastra (मानसारशिल्पशास्त्रम्) deals with many aspects of town planning such as study of soil, climatic conditions, topography, fixing orientation to get maximum advantage of the sun and wind, and layout of various types of town plans such as Dandaka, Svastika, Padmaka, Nandyavarta, Prastara, Chaturmukha, Karmukha.

Mansara Shilpashastra (मानसारशिल्पशास्त्रम्) deals with many aspects of town planning such as study of soil, climatic conditions, topography, fixing orientation to get maximum advantage of the sun and wind, and layout of various types of town plans such as Dandaka (दण्डकः), Svastika (स्वस्तिकः), Padmaka (पद्मकः), Nandyavarta (नन्द्यावर्तः), Prastara (प्रस्तरः), Chaturmukha (चतुर्मुखः), Karmukha (कर्मुकः).

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.

* 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.

* The odour of site should be agreeable when dugged to the depth of man, with his arms raised above his head.

* The odour of site should be agreeable when dug to the depth of man, with his arms raised above his head.

* 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.

* 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.

<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>

<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. 3.5-6''</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 South-West to North-East direction.

* The predominant wind direction in India is from South-West to North-East direction.

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:

# When a site is selected from the town or a house is to be erected on it, the layout of that town is demarcated by the ‘Sthapati''’'' and plots are according to certain planning principles.

# When a site is selected from the town or a house is to be erected on it, the layout of that town is demarcated by the ‘Sthapati (स्थपतिः)’ and plots are according to certain planning principles.

# After completing the layout of town and trees, they must be planted before the commencement of building work. This is important for the scenic beauty of townscape.

# After completing the layout of town and trees, they must be planted before the commencement of building work. This is important for the scenic beauty of townscape.

# Ancient Indian houses were built around a certain court. Such houses were known as ‘Salas’. Salas meaning “a long structure of one span.” Houses of Brahmanas comprised of four such spans around an enclosed central court. This is known as ''‘''Chatursala''’''. The house of Kshatriyas were the ''‘''Trisalas''’'' occupying three sides of a rectangular plot. Similarly, there were ''‘''Dwisalas’ for Vaishyas and ‘Eksala’ for Shudras.

# Ancient Indian houses were built around a certain court. Such houses were known as ‘Salas’. Salas meaning “a long structure of one span.” Houses of Brahmanas comprised of four such spans around an enclosed central court. This is known as ''‘''Chatursala''’''. The house of Kshatriyas were the ''‘''Trisalas''’'' occupying three sides of a rectangular plot. Similarly, there were ''‘''Dvisalas’ for Vaishyas and ‘Eksala’ for Shudras.

# The Height of building was related to width of the roads. This helped to control the elevation of buildings along a street, to maintain uniformity.

# The Height of building was related to width of the roads. This helped to control the elevation of buildings along a street, to maintain uniformity.

# Individual house buildings were not permitted to deviate from maximum dimensions laid down by buildings of different ‘Varnas’.

# Individual house buildings were not permitted to deviate from maximum dimensions laid down by buildings of different ‘Varnas’.

# Footpaths or ‘Vithikas’ were provided on either side of the road and paved with hand material such as stone slabs.

# Footpaths or ‘Vithikas’ were provided on either side of the road and paved with hand material such as stone slabs.

# Storm water drains were present on both sides of the street.

# Storm water drains were present on both sides of the street.

# Mansara states that footpath should be raised above the street level.

# Mansara (मानसारम्) states that footpath should be raised above the street level.

# All houses should face the royal roads and at their back, should run narrow service lanes.

# All houses should face the royal roads and at their back, should run narrow service lanes.

== ग्रामप्रकाराः ॥ Types of Villages  ==

== ग्रामप्रकाराः ॥ Types of Villages  ==

Mansara classified villages into eight types according to their shape, method of street planning, temple planning etc.

Mansara classified villages into eight types according to their shape, method of street planning, temple planning etc.<blockquote>वक्ष्येऽहं ग्रामविन्यासं शास्त्रे संक्षेपतः क्रमात् । दण्डकं सर्वतोभद्रं नन्द्यावर्तं तु पद्मकम् ॥</blockquote><blockquote>स्वस्तिकं प्रस्तरं चैव कार्मुकं च चतुर्मुखम् । एवं चाष्टविधं ग्रामं तत्तद्रूपेण संज्ञितम् ॥ Mana. 9.1-2<ref>Prasanna Kumar Acharya, [https://archive.org/details/ManasaraOnArchitectureAndSculpture/page/n3 Manasara] on Architecture and Sculpture, Oxford University Press.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''vakṣye'haṁ grāmavinyāsaṁ śāstre saṁkṣepataḥ kramāt । daṇḍakaṁ sarvatobhadraṁ nandyāvartaṁ tu padmakam ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''svastikaṁ prastaraṁ caiva kārmukaṁ ca caturmukham । evaṁ cāṣṭavidhaṁ grāmaṁ tattadrūpeṇa saṁjñitam ॥ Mana. 9.1-2''</blockquote>

# DANDAKA: This village form follows a ribbon development along principle street. It consisted of five long parallel street running East- West with three shorter ones intersecting them at the middle and two ends. There were two bathing tanks in the Northeast and Southwest corners and temples out of which principle one was placed at the west end of king’s street called rajapath. Minor deities and their temples were on the outskirts of village. The fortified wall had four gateways facing the two main streets. In the given plan each of inside plates had two rows of houses.

# दण्डकः | Dandaka : This village form follows a ribbon development along principle street. It consisted of five long parallel street running East- West with three shorter ones intersecting them at the middle and two ends. There were two bathing tanks in the Northeast and Southwest corners and temples out of which principle one was placed at the west end of Raja’s street called rajapath. Minor deities and their temples were on the outskirts of village. The fortified wall had four gateways facing the two main streets. In the given plan each of inside plates had two rows of houses.

# SVASTIKA: The plan resembles the pattern of a svastika. Two main streets run East- West and North- South in the middle. The branch streets shall follow pattern of svastika. The wall was fortified with provisions of missiles. The magic of svastika lay in the fact that it was a formation used to defend the four gateways.

# स्वस्तिकः । Svastika : The plan resembles the pattern of a svastika. Two main streets run East-West and North-South in the middle. The branch streets shall follow pattern of svastika. The wall was fortified with provisions of missiles. The magic of svastika lay in the fact that it was a formation used to defend the four gateways.

# PADMAKA: The shape of Padmaka may vary but length and breadth needs to be equal. The plan had two main roads in the East- west and North- south direction. It had a temple at the centre and palace, shops, market and tank spreading around the periphery of the plan. Mansara states that the length and breadth of this village shall be the same and could be enclosed by circular, quadrangular, hexagonal or octagonal walls.

# पद्मकः । Padmaka : The shape of Padmaka may vary but length and breadth needs to be equal. The plan had two main roads in the East-west and North-south direction. It had a temple at the centre and palace, shops, market and tank spreading around the periphery of the plan. Mansara states that the length and breadth of this village shall be the same and could be enclosed by circular, quadrangular, hexagonal or octagonal walls.

# CHATURMUKHA: The village was square or rectangular in shape with two main streets in the East- West and North- South directions. As the name suggests it had four main gateways at the end of streets. The Shudras resided in extreme borders; the temple being at the centre of the plan.

# चतुर्मुखः । Chaturmukha : The village was square or rectangular in shape with two main streets in the East-West and North-South directions. As the name suggests it had four main gateways at the end of streets. The Shudras resided in extreme borders; the temple being at the centre of the plan.

# PRASTARA: These were more developed Vedic settlements. The main streets were in North- South and East- West direction which divided the city into four main parts each part having narrower streets than the main one. The city was enclosed in walls and there were four gateways at cardinal points. For example, the city of Jaipur.

# प्रस्तरः । Prastara : These were more developed Vedic settlements. The main streets were in North-South and East-West direction which divided the city into four main parts each part having narrower streets than the main one. The city was enclosed in walls and there were four gateways at cardinal points. For example, the city of Jaipur.

# KARMUKHA: The shape of the city resembled a bow. The city had wall enclosure in the form of a bow having two main gates on the North and South sides. It had one main road lying in the North- South direction. Outside the city wall was a moat (deep and wide water filled ditch) for defence.

# कर्मुकः । Karmuka : The shape of the city resembled a bow. The city had wall enclosure in the form of a bow having two main gates on the North and South sides. It had one main road lying in the North-South direction. Outside the city wall was a moat (deep and wide water filled ditch) for defence.

# NANDYAVARTA: This plan was in the pattern of flower petals. This was known as the abode of happiness. This plan was intended to accommodate a population of mixed social grades. Nandyavarta type of village contained a great number of shrines dedicated to various deities for location of which Mansara has given directions. There were bazars placed on outer blocks near gates.

# नन्द्यावर्तः । Nandyavarta : This plan was in the pattern of flower petals. This was known as the abode of happiness. This plan was intended to accommodate a population of mixed social grades. Nandyavarta type of village contained a great number of shrines dedicated to various deities for location of which Mansara has given directions. There were bazars placed on outer blocks near gates.

# SARVATOBHADRA: At the centre of village was a temple of Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma. The village had two streets crossing each other at the middle. Rest houses for pilgrims and educational buildings were at the outer rings of village. Vaishyas and Shudras resided at the Southern part. The temple of Chamunda Devi was erected at North- East side. The village was protected by a wall and ditch. The principle streets were purified by rays of Sun from morning to evening.

# सर्वतोभद्रः । Sarvatobhadra : At the centre of village was a temple of Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma. The village had two streets crossing each other at the middle. Rest houses for pilgrims and educational buildings were at the outer rings of village. Vaishyas and Shudras resided at the Southern part. The temple of Chamunda Devi was erected at North-East side. The village was protected by a wall and ditch. The principle streets were purified by rays of Sun from morning to evening.