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Nagara Vinyasa (Samskrit: नगरविन्यासः) refers to ancient Indian town planning systems and helps us understand the architectural paradigms prevalent in ancient bharata.

{{NeedCitation}}Nagara Vinyasa (Samskrit: नगरविन्यासः) refers to ancient Indian town planning systems and helps us understand the architectural paradigms prevalent in ancient bharata.

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

According to the United Nations report launched in 2014, more than 54% of the world’s population in the current times lives in urban settings and the number is much higher for developed nations. Along with economic opportunities, the current city life has brought people together in uncomfortable ways leading to ghettos, poverty and crime. The discussions and debates on what could be a better, healthy, natural living have given rise to newer concepts such as smart cities, Eco-cities, Green cities and so on. Yet modern day city life is a far cry from what the architects of ancient India had in mind when crafting models for happy and peaceful coexistence.

According to the United Nations report launched in 2014, more than 54% of the world’s population in the current times lives in urban settings and the number is much higher for developed nations. Along with economic opportunities, the current city life has brought people together in uncomfortable ways leading to ghettos, poverty and crime. The discussions and debates on what could be a better, healthy, natural living have given rise to newer concepts such as smart cities, Eco-cities, Green cities and so on. Yet modern day city life is a far cry from what the architects of ancient India had in mind when crafting models for happy and peaceful coexistence.

In the context of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]], a human life is considered to be a great benediction as it affords one the extraordinary opportunity to transcend the karmic baggage he’s been lugging. This means to re-design our lives in a way to suit the greater cosmic designs of the universe. To that effect, the broad corpus of Vedic knowledge and literature offer up limitless ways to create a conducive environment for personal, physical and spiritual transformation.

In the context of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]], a human life is considered to be a great benediction as it affords one the extraordinary opportunity to transcend the karmic baggage he’s been lugging. This means to re-design our lives in a way to suit the greater cosmic designs of the universe. To that effect, the broad corpus of Vedic knowledge and literature offer up limitless ways to create a conducive environment for personal, physical and adhyatmik transformation.

Just like a properly built laboratory is the required foundation for any scientist to produce meaningful results through her experiments, every human needs a similar setup to encourage meaningful spiritual results. One of these critical dimensions is how we physically live in the world, namely towns and cities.

Just like a properly built laboratory is the required foundation for any scientist to produce meaningful results through her experiments, every human needs a similar setup to encourage meaningful adhyatmik results. One of these critical dimensions is how we physically live in the world, namely towns and cities.

The traditional Indian knowledge on the topics of Nagara Vinyasa or Vastu (town planning and architecture), often produces a whole spectrum of reactions from the people, from curiosity to apprehension, from holistic to malified practices. But if duly analyzed from a technical perspective, it can surely result in the shift of people’s perception about the concerned topics from a must-be-followed-sacred-tradition to professional town planning/architecture practices. Hence, proper initiation of a full and in-depth understanding of the concerned knowledge domain will definitely rectify the apprehensions raised about these topics caused by various intentional or unintentional misunderstandings.

The traditional Indian knowledge on the topics of Nagara Vinyasa or Vastu (वास्तुः । town planning and architecture), often produces a whole spectrum of reactions from the people, from curiosity to apprehension, from holistic to malified practices. But if duly analyzed from a technical perspective, it can surely result in the shift of people’s perception about the concerned topics from a must-be-followed-sacred-tradition to professional town planning/architecture practices. Hence, proper initiation of a full and in-depth understanding of the concerned knowledge domain will definitely rectify the apprehensions raised about these topics caused by various intentional or unintentional misunderstandings.

The existing approaches being employed for understanding this ancient Indian knowledge and practices about the subjects of town planning and architecture can be considered as analogous to that story of few blind men and the elephant. This knowledge system and practice is profound and variegated like that elephant in the story, in the sense that it has many aspects or different fields within itself.

The existing approaches being employed for understanding this ancient Indian knowledge and practices about the subjects of town planning and architecture can be considered as analogous to that story of few blind men and the elephant. This knowledge system and practice is profound and variegated like that elephant in the story, in the sense that it has many aspects or different fields within itself.

== विषयसूचिः ॥ Subject Matter ==

== विषयसूचिः ॥ Subject Matter ==

Traditional Vastu treatise like Mayamata, Manasara, Shilparatna and Samarangana Sutradhara etc., contain verses on all these aspects: the planning of towns, villages, the design of temples, halls, pavilions, and seats etc. It also has information on material specifications, brickwork, joinery and carpentry. And while the majority of the text concerns the planning, architecture, and construction practices, the remaining verses are on astrology, ayadi formulae, mandala diagrams, muhurta and other non-architectural aspects. Thus, they can be considered as equivalent to the present day’s town and architectural planning/design guidelines or practices, as they broadly talk about various principles of design, aesthetics, management and total quality management, which are a crucial part of the usual processes in the contemporary construction and real estate industries.

Traditional Vastu treatise like Mayamata (मयमतम्), Manasara (मानसारम्), Shilparatna (शिप्लरत्नम्) and Samarangana Sutradhara (समराङ्गणसूत्रधारः) etc., contain verses on all these aspects: the planning of towns, villages, the design of temples, halls, pavilions, and seats etc. It also has information on material specifications, brickwork, joinery and carpentry. And while the majority of the text concerns the planning, architecture, and construction practices, the remaining verses are on astrology, ayadi formulae, mandala diagrams, muhurta and other non-architectural aspects. Thus, they can be considered as equivalent to the present day’s town and architectural planning/design guidelines or practices, as they broadly talk about various principles of design, aesthetics, management and total quality management, which are a crucial part of the usual processes in the contemporary construction and real estate industries.

A variety of sacred and ancient texts of India make references and elaborations on Vedic city planning, design, and architecture.

A variety of sacred and ancient texts of India make references and elaborations on Vedic city planning, design, and architecture.

|'''Aspect'''

|'''Aspect'''

|-

|-

|Sthapatya Veda (Upaveda of Atharvaveda)

|Sthapatyaveda (स्थापत्यवेदः)

(Upaveda of Atharvaveda)

|Layout of a city

|Layout of a city

|-

|-

|Smrti Shastra

|Smrti Shastra (स्मृतिशास्त्रम्)

|Street layouts (micro and macro)

|Street layouts (micro and macro)

|-

|-

|Vastu Shastra

|Vastu Shastra (वास्तुशास्त्रम्)

|Treatises on architectural planning, construction, and design; Matters related to site selection, site planning and orientation; Quality of soil, water resources, planting of trees and groves

|Treatises on architectural planning, construction, and design; Matters related to site selection, site planning and orientation; Quality of soil, water resources, planting of trees and groves

|-

|-

|Arthashastra

|Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)

|Environmental management

|Environmental management

|-

|-

|Mansara Shilpa Shastra

|Mansara Shilpa Shastra (मानसारशिल्पशास्त्रम्)

|Grama Vidhana and Nagara Vidhana

|Grama Vidhana (ग्रामविधानम्) and Nagara Vidhana (नगरविधानम्)

|-

|-

|Rigveda

|Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)

|Advanced Vastu Shilpa

|Advanced Vastu Shilpa

|-

|-

|Vastu Shastra, Priccha, Manasollasa, Prasadamandana, Shilparatna

|Vastu Shastra (वास्तुशास्त्रम्), Aparajita Praccha (अपराजितप्रच्छा), Manasollasa (मानसोल्लासः), Prasadamandana (प्रसादमण्डनः), Shilparatna (शिल्परत्नम्)

|Treatise on architecture and planning based on Vedic hymns

|Treatise on architecture and planning based on Vedic hymns

|}

|}

Agatara – rectangle

Agatara – rectangle

Vritta – circle

Vrtta – circle

Kritta vritta – elliptical

Krtta vrtta – elliptical

Gola vritta – full circle

Gola vrtta – full circle

|-

|-

|Vastu Purusha mandala

|Vastu Purusha mandala

The Indian knowledge system about town planning and architecture is considered to have its roots way back from around 2500 B.C. And we can very well find that the building or settlement patterns, town forms, architectural styles, typologies etc. were extremely rich and diverse ever since that era. The proud testimony to this excellence in the architecture and town planning practices of our nation is evident mainly through two phenomena. The first one is the built examples of architectural and planning marvels located across the country, the traces of which are visible even today. These beautiful and magnificent structures aren’t confined to a single time epoch or a dynasty/civilization/culture, but rather range across numerous time eras, right from 2500 B.C. till today. And the second phenomenon is the finding of diverse literature dealing with this subject in the form of treatises in Sanskrit, and in several other regional languages as well across different geographic locations and ages in India. These are primarily known as the Vastushastra or Shilpa Shastra, i.e., the science of architecture or construction.

The Indian knowledge system about town planning and architecture is considered to have its roots way back from around 2500 B.C. And we can very well find that the building or settlement patterns, town forms, architectural styles, typologies etc. were extremely rich and diverse ever since that era. The proud testimony to this excellence in the architecture and town planning practices of our nation is evident mainly through two phenomena. The first one is the built examples of architectural and planning marvels located across the country, the traces of which are visible even today. These beautiful and magnificent structures aren’t confined to a single time epoch or a dynasty/civilization/culture, but rather range across numerous time eras, right from 2500 B.C. till today. And the second phenomenon is the finding of diverse literature dealing with this subject in the form of treatises in Sanskrit, and in several other regional languages as well across different geographic locations and ages in India. These are primarily known as the Vastushastra or Shilpa Shastra, i.e., the science of architecture or construction.

Many of the manuscripts of these treatises have been translated, and can collectively be considered under the ‘Planning and Architectural Literary Heritage’. The literature, chiefly in Sanskrit, under this category, aren’t particular to a single location but are spread across India. Few commonly known examples are Vishvakarma Vastushastra, Aparajita Praccha, Manasara, Rajavallabha, Mayamata, Kashyapa Shilpa, Silparatna, and Samarangana Sutradhara.

Many of the manuscripts of these treatises have been translated, and can collectively be considered under the ‘Planning and Architectural Literary Heritage’. The literature, chiefly in Sanskrit, under this category, aren’t particular to a single location but are spread across India. Few commonly known examples are Vishvakarma Vastushastra (विश्वकर्मवास्तुशास्त्रम्), Aparajita Praccha (अपराजितप्रच्छा), Manasara (मानसारम्), Rajavallabha (राजवल्लभवास्तुशास्त्रम्), Mayamata (मयमतम्), Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra (कश्यपशिल्पशास्त्रम्), Shilparatna (शिल्परत्नम्), and Samarangana Sutradhara (समराङ्गणसूत्रधारः).

The availability of this diversity in the concerned literature can further be categorized into two broad subdivisions for the purpose of analysis: Proper Architectural Works and Allied-Architectural Adjuncts. The latter contains all the allied and associated pieces of information on these subjects, as expounded in various Puranas, Agamas, etc.

The availability of this diversity in the concerned literature can further be categorized into two broad subdivisions for the purpose of analysis: Proper Architectural Works and Allied-Architectural Adjuncts. The latter contains all the allied and associated pieces of information on these subjects, as expounded in various Puranas, [[Agamas (आगमाः)|Agamas]], etc.

== वर्तमानकालीयप्रश्नाः ॥ Contemporary Challenges ==

== वर्तमानकालीयप्रश्नाः ॥ Contemporary Challenges ==

Unfortunately, in the present context, this traditional knowledge system concerning town planning and architecture, has become a double-meaning word. For example, one of the popular but morphed interpretations of the word ''‘''Vastu''’'', which is used by many to monetize the commoners’ ignorance about the subject, can mean something mystical or superstitious or ritualistic that can make or break the life of the client. However, the other simple yet scientific meaning can imply ''‘''Vastu’ as the Sanskrit equivalent of architecture or the Indian system of architecture. In fact, etymologically the word ''‘''Vastu’ is derived from वस्तु (matter/earth); and Vastu hence can be considered as the simple act of modifying this Vastu (matter) into usable forms (which can be house, temple, towns, villages, sculptures or iconographies).

Unfortunately, in the present context, this traditional knowledge system concerning town planning and architecture, has become a double-meaning word. For example, one of the popular but morphed interpretations of the word ''‘''Vastu''’'', which is used by many to monetize the commoners’ ignorance about the subject, can mean something mystical or superstitious or ritualistic that can make or break the life of the client. However, the other simple yet scientific meaning can imply ''‘''Vastu’ as the Sanskrit equivalent of architecture or the Indian system of architecture. In fact, etymologically the word ''‘''Vastu’ is derived from वस्तु (matter/earth); and Vastu hence can be considered as the simple act of modifying this Vastu (matter) into usable forms (which can be house, temple, towns, villages, sculptures or iconographies).

Hence its always advisable that whenever one uses words like ''‘''Vastu''’'', the first step should be to find out what that person really means or implies by the word or the context in which it is being used: it could either mean what all has been mentioned here previously or perhaps even more. Even in several different contexts, it could either happen that a person might use it to mean it reverentially (like the name of a deity), sarcastically (like the honesty of lawyers), fashionably (Vastu? The new ‘feng-shui’?); or perhaps academically (like a branch of knowledge) or scholarly, like what is intended here in this article.

Hence its always advisable that whenever one uses words like ''‘''Vastu''’'', the first step should be to find out what that person really means or implies by the word or the context in which it is being used: it could either mean what all has been mentioned here previously or perhaps even more. Even in several different contexts, it could either happen that a person might use it to mean it reverentially (like the name of a deity), sarcastically (like the honesty of lawyers), fashionably (Vastu? The new ‘feng-shui’?); or perhaps academically (like a branch of knowledge) or scholarly, like what is intended here in this article.

Denouncing something because it is old could be a great loss. It could perhaps be much more valuable if researched and interpreted correctly and is subsequently modified for its use in the present age. 

Denouncing something because it is old could be a great loss. It could perhaps be much more valuable if researched and interpreted correctly and is subsequently modified for its use in the present age.