SRI LANKAN INTANGIBLE HERITAGEVASTU SHASTRA

LECTURE SERIES ON INTANGIBLE HERITAGEDE 3452

Prof. Samitha ManawaduDept of Architecture22nd March 2013

TRANSFORMATION OF SRI LANKAN CULTURE

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SRI LANKAN CULTURAL HISTORY(When Prehistoric Archaeological data superimposed on the History of City Planning in Sri Lanka)

•Earliest Habitation Sites of Nomadic Period in Hinterland Wet-zone;

•Mesolithic Sites of Transitory Period in the Intermediate Climatic Region;

•Megalithic Sites of Neolithic Period in River Beds of both Wet Zone and the Dry zone Climatic Region; and,

•Neolithic Sites in Dry Zone/ wet Zone

•Urban Period in the Dry Zone & Wet Zone.•First Wave of Urbanization in Dry Zone;

•Second Wave in Wet-Zone Hinterland Regions

•Third Wave in maritime provinces.

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HISTORIC SETTLEMENTS

SITES WITH BRAHMI INSCRIPTION

VIJAYANAGAR 3EUROPEAN 7

IBN BATUTA 4

MARCO POLO 5

PORTUGUESE 6

CHINESE ARABIAN 2

PROTO HISTORIC 1SRI LANKA - CULTURAL CONTAMINATIONS (As seen in the History)

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Relationship between Mahavamsa References and Archaeological Findings

Three Visits of Gautama Buddha to Sri Lanka:

• First Visit during the 9th month of the Buddhahood, •To Mahanaga Garden in Mahiyangana •On the bank of River Mahaveli and •In Dry Zone Region, •To an assemblage of Yakkha tribe.

• Second Visit during the 5th of Buddhahood, •To Nagadipa in Jaffna peninsula, •To settle a dispute between two Naga tribal leaders.

•Third Visit during the 8th year of the Buddhahood, •To Kelaniya, •In Wet-Zone•On an invitation of a Naga Leader. •Visited Sri Pada to meet Deva.

•Indirect Revelation on different tribes or clans, and on both dry and wet zones settlements

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Mahavamsa References on Prehistoric & Proto-historic Settlements

•Mahavamsa references on Ports and Harbors;

•Mahatittha(Mannar), most referred fort . Princess Vijaya and 500 females arrived.

•Gonagamakatittha(13), Panduvasdeva and Princess Baddhakachchna arrived.

•Brothers of Princess Baddhkachchana founded settlements for themselves

•Viithagama(9);•Dighayugama (14);•Rohanagama(16).

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Reservoir Constructions to improve Living Environments

•444 BC Anuradhavapi;

•410 Gaminivapi

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Regal City of Anuradhapura

•Anuradhagama selected as the Regal City.

•Made walls, moats and other defenses.

•Deputies were appointed.•Uncle Abhaya as Nagaraguttika, Conservator of the City.•Uncle Girikandasiva conferred with the territory of Girikanda.

•Deepened the marsh in the vicinity of the city to contain great body of water.

•Used aborigines to Protect the City.•Yakkha Kalawela in the eastern quarter of the city.•Yakkha Citta in the lower side of the Abhaya Tank.•Yakkha settlement at the southern gate of the city for protection of the city.•Dwelling for the Yakkhini who helped at the Dhumarukkha mountain within the Royal place garden.

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Regal City of Anuradhapura

•Improving to Physical Layout of the City.•Founded four suburbs.•Abhaya tank.•To the west of the Place.

•Great cemetery; •place of execution and torture;•Nigroda Tree as an altar for Devatha Vessavana;•Temple for Vyadhadeva;

•Gilt Hall•Palace with many apartments.

•Employed a City labor force;•500 Chandalas as scavengers of the city;•200 Chandalas as night men;•150 Chandalas to carry corpses;•150 Chandalas at the cemetery;•Village of Chandalas in the north of h cemetery;•Northwest of Chandala village, a village for nichi-chandalas;•Dedicated cemetery for low caste communities also there.

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Regal City of Anuradhapura

•Village of Huntsmen in the north of the Cemetery (Gamini tank was sited north of them);•Dwelling for devotees;

•East of the Nighanta cemetery, residence of Brahmin Jotiya;

•In the same premises, Temple for Nighanta Kumbandha;

•West of that temple, and east ward of row of houses of huntsmen, residence of 500 persons of foreign religious faiths;

•Residence for paribhajika devotees in between Gamin Tank and the dwelling of Jothiya;

•On a separate site, residences for Ajiwakas, hall for worshippers of Brahma, another for Siva, and a hospital.

•Boundaries of the territory held by him was fixed in his 12th year of reign.

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Regal City of Anuradhapura

•Had unique features:•Fortified settlement;•Further protected by an compassing moats;•Four gateways facing cardinal directions;•Villages of the upper strata and faithful occupying the villages in the proximity of them;

•Directional supremacy in laying out the city;•Northern suburbs for religious institutions;•Northwestern sector for residences of followers of various religions;•Eastern suburbs devoid of any constructions;•Southern suburbs, a forbidden sector, as Royal Pleasure gardens;•West as an inauspicious direction and all activities of inferior characteristics including cemeteries, villages of low castes and foreigners etc.

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Buddhist City of Anuradhapura

Mahinda sermon dispelling Directional Supremacy•Visit of Kakusanda Buddha

•Mahamegha as Mahathittha Garden;•City was Abhaya Pura on further bank of Kadambanadi•Ruler was Abhaya and the Island was Ojadipa.

•Visit of Konagamana Buddha•Mahamegha as Mahanama Garden•City was Vaddhamanapura in southward•Ruler was Samiddha and the Island was Varadipa

•Visit of Kassapa Buddha;•Mahamegha as Mahasagara Garden;•City was Visala nagara on the westward;

•Ruler was Jayantha and the Island was Mandadipa

•Visit of Gautama Buddha•No city, no garden and only nomads.

•Visit of Mahinda•The present city.

Mahatittha GadnMahanama

Mahasagara

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Buddhist City of Anuradhapura

Physical changes of the city after the Introduction of Buddhism:

•Demarcation of the Precincts of Mahavihara;

•All urban monasteries locating within the perimeter of the precincts;

•Construction of Mahavihara;

•Construction of Issaramana Monastery;

•Construction of Tissa Vapi;

•Construction of Vessagiriya Monastery;

•Constriction of Several other religious buildings in the suburbs of the regal city.

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Buddhist City of Anuradhapura

Physical changes of the city after the Introduction of Buddhism:•Construction of Mirisavetiya Monastery in 2nd c. BC; Abhayagiriya Monastery during 1st c. BC; Jetavana Monastery during 3rd c. AD; all within the set precincts of Mahavihara Monastery.

•The First concept if Zoning in the History of City Planning in Sri Lanka.

•Development of Reservoir Systems to sustain a larger city of Anuradhapura, very specially with a huge monastic population. micro and mini developments were accompanied.

•Reverting to the Aryan concept of settlement planning by the 5th century AD.

•Impetus for Three Waves of Historic Urbanization process in the country, in which first wave concentrating n the dry zone, with Anuradhapura centric development.

Sri Lankan Vernacular Architecture

SRI LANKAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE•Villages; Houses; Granaries; •Wayside Resting Places, Ambalama;•Folk Shrines;

RESPONDING TO PRIMARY FORCES:Social Forces;• Intra-family Relationship;• Inter Family Relationship;• Relationship with Religious Institution;• Relationship with workplace;• Customs and Beliefs.

Environmental Forces;• Climatic Conditions;• Land and Geography;• Natural phenomena;

Technological Forces;• Materials• Techniques

TRADITIONAL HOUSE & VILLAGE

MANASARA The ancient Indian text on the science of architecture.

Deals on subjects such as -

• Site selection;

• Soil testing

• Designing and planning of all types of buildings.

• Town plan

• Design of furniture.

• Dresses, and

• Ornaments.

Despite the impacts and influences of foreign activities, with the help of the administrators, both rural and urban populations remain tied up to the traditions is visible.

Dimensions of the site:•Measure is Purusha Pramana, a human figure.

•Site measured north south and east – west.

•Measurements added and divided by eight

•The numeral of remainder decides suitability.

•Suitability of site for particular caste of owner.

•Methods determine mandaladhipathi, a deity bringing fortune or misfortune upon site.

•Length and breadth of site measure in hasthamana riyana.

•Similar to above using scale vaduriyana.

•Length and breadth of site added to total number of characters of name of owner and name of site.

•Total multiplied by four and divided by three.•Remainder 1 represent animate land, best.•Remainder 2 mixed results and passable.•No remainder, dead land and not suitable.

Surface featuresSurface deposits and some other environmental features are considered as ill omens. Site environment

•Favourable Sites:•Presence of twittering birds and;•Visibility of running water are auspicious omens.

•Unsuitable Sites:•A prostitute’s house near by, •closer to three or four way junctions, and •a cemetery are treated as inauspicious.

 Vegetation•a site with luxuriant vegetation is recommended.•Arid land with no vegetation unsuitable.

•Presence of precious medicinal herbs, creepers such as midi, trees such as satin; •bo and mara, and grass like undupiyaliya brings prosperity, health and wealth.

CUSTOMS IN HOUSE DESIGNS

•Zoning the site.•Pada Bedima, & Bhumi Chakra - two methods of zoning a site.

•Pada Bedeema, site divided by nine parallel lines and another nine perpendicular lines to previous lines.

•Innermost square Habitat of absolute (Brahma Pada),

•Adjoining strip of Deities (Deva Pada),

•Strip outside Deva Pada is of Human beings (Manushya Pada),

•Peripheral Strip for Evil Spirits (Pretha Pada).

•House in Manushya Pada, and may extend to Deva Pada.

•Brahma Pada is for religious buildings, and outer layer not recommended for a buildings.

CUSTOMS IN HOUSE DESIGNS

•Zoning the site.

•In Bhumi Chakra, site is divided by lines connecting each corners, and each centres thorough/ over centre line.

•South/west sector is most suitable for sitting a house.

•Adjoining triangles north of the best is the next good.

•Adjoining triangle east of the best is moderate.

•Remaining half is inauspicious.  

MARMASTANA AND THEIR IMPACTS:

Inauspicious points (centre and 12 sub centres) should not lie within the proposed house

•marma rekha – diagonals.

•Madhya rekha – anu marma rekha.

•Ginikatura – cross formed by marma rekha

•Marma Sthanaya – centre

•Anu Marma Sthana – sub-centres formed by pada boundaries and marma rekha.

•MODIFICATIONS:At present the pada beddema is modified to suit the urban context as follows:

•Marma Sthana of the house not to be fall on the marma rekha of the site.

•Marma Rekha of the site not to be fall on the Marma Rekha of the house.

•Very small sites, at least three pretha pada zones to be kept open, and not more than one living spaces to be located in the encroached preta pada zone.

Orientation

•North is the most auspicious direction.•Southeast is the worst.•If the main door faces E or S, length of the house is along NS and EW respectively.   Location of activities•Inauspicious location of the well.

•Align with the ridge.•Facing a main door.•Aligned any of the wall lines•Aligned with marma rekha.•Aligned with valley gutter.•Aligned with four major lines running parallel to the ridge and between walls.•Aligned with Marma rekha of the site.•Aligned with diagonal lines of interior spaces.                   

Effects could be reduced by locating well at a different/ lower level ground or by constructing a wall in between..

Form of house•Ideal shape is rectangular.

•Square is for religious buildings.

•Other suitable include the followings•U shape.•T shape..

•Inauspicious includes the following.•L shape.•Cross•Circular•Triangle.

•length and breadth are to be even and odd numbers respectively.

•Traditionally, dimensions were specified according the caste affiliations.

Ill planning Separation

Misfortune Quarreling

Danger Non-ambitious Cheated Sexual desireN

Internal spaces

•following situations are avoided.•Three corners within the house falling in one line.•Interior corners falling on Marma Rekha.•Marma Sthana falling on an internal wall. •Wall bisecting the width of the house, (by being lying under the ridge).

•Doors and Windows•Main door as the mouth of a human being.•Should not face the west.•In the front wall forming the length of the house.•Not at the end wall.•Not to face a bend of a road.•Not to face a two ways or three way junctions.•Not to align with the corner of the house.•Not to be sited on the straight line with the gate.

•Number of doors in odd number•Number of windows in even number•Total should never be 09,19,29 etc. not to locate three doors on one line.•Doors not to cut across marma rekha.•When an irregular plan forms, several marma rekhah will be drawn.

Floor area: 11 simple calculations to determine the suitability. customs in construction

commencement of workposition of the main door.

N – 13/04 ~ 13/06E – 13/07 ~ 13/09S – 13/10 ~ 13/12W – 13/01 ~ 13/03

04 remaining months are corner months, and are inauspicious.

Merit days of the work commence.•sandu (Monday) - birth of daughters.•budha, guru, shukra (wed., thu, Friday) – wealth, worldly pleasure and prosperity.•Ravi (Sunday) loss of wealth•Kuja (Tuesday) destructions•Shani (Saturday) gain of land and property.

•Favourable constellations (nekatha) to commence the works. 

site preparations•offerings to God of Wealth (Bhahirava)•04 guardian deities.•Remove the top soil to ensure that no harmful elements are present at site.

Laying the foundation stone

•Setting out, and cutting of the first sod in an auspicious times.

•Bhuminaga charka will determine the proper place for foundations.•Head facing the direction of the main door. •stomach of the Bhuminaga is suitable for lying of the foundation.

 •Following are the unsuitable locations.

•Naval fear.•Tail – death•Knees – destroying of the house.•Below the knee destructions.•Private paths – ill health.•Not place beneath a circulation space, end of a wall, centre of the house or a toilet..

 Superstructure•Work to commence on an auspicious time.•Cross walls and cross beams will have evil effects.•Rituals in placement of the first door frame.

Roof•work to commence in an auspicious time.•Rafters not to be fixed for the joint where the hip rafters and ridge meets.•Ridge not to run across external doors.•Not to support by odd number of supports.•Not to have odd number of joints.•Purling joints should not run in alignment.•Joint of a wall plate should not be above a door.

 

Positioning of the house•More to the right when looking outward.•Home garden to the left is very auspicious.•Forecourt in east or west is auspicious.•forecourt in SW inauspicious.•Forecourt in north or south is moderate.

Occupying the house.•auspicious time according to the astrological guidelines

OTHER BELIEFS

1. RIVER FLOWING IN FRONT OF A HOUSE

• Outbound flow inauspicious.

• Inbound auspicious, but not directly to the main entrance.

• Curvilinear river in front of a house (incurve, outcurve or wrap)inauspicious.

• River in front of a house flowing northward, northeastward of eastward is auspicious, and will bring prosperity

• Branching off after the house is not good.

• Branching off before the house too is inauspicious.

• Broadening in front of the house or after passing is very auspicious..

OTHER BELIEFS ……………..

2. POSITIONING OF WALLS WITHIN AUSPICIOUS PADA

• Defining PADA (maximum length and maximum width to be divided by 15).

• Generally width of the pada of length and width is not equal, as squares are not selected as an auspicious plan form.

• Auspicious pada are 1,3,5,6,8,10,11,13,15

• Inauspicious pada are 2,4,7,9,12,14.

• All walls should be positioned on meritorious pada.

• Doors and windows (jambs and frames)should be positioned on meritorious pada.

• Joists of roofs to be positioned on meritorious pada.

• Joists and plates, including ridge plate, must be in odd numbers such as 3, 5, and 7.

• Plates/ joists to be positioned above a meritorious pada.

Landscaping.•Sapu, papol, desaman, plantain are auspicious trees.

•Trees with milk sap, throne, and bear fruits are not auspicious.

•Banyan tree auspicious for east. But Bo-tree is inauspicious.

•Bo tree in the east will bring fear.

•Asatu in the east brings sorrow.

•Jak tree is auspicious for the south. Other taller trees are inauspicious for the south. Pulila (parasite) tree on the south will bring poverty to the house.

•Attikka tree is inauspicious for the north, and will bring eye diseases.

•Banyan tree is auspicious for the west. Asatu and Nellie were serving.

Trees which are not recommended for growing.•Taller tress are inauspicious for the forecourt.

•Siyambala (tamarind), keselkaranda, delum, nilkatarolu, thorny trees, softwood trees, plants with red color flowers, king coconut and pathoks, are highly inauspicious for planting in front of the office.

•Softwood trees in front of the houses, causes loss of property.

•Thorny trees causes animosity with neighbors.

•Trees with nuts in front of the house brings misery to children.

•King coconut tress around the house bring disharmony amongst the occupants. Further, it is believed that the gravity, disharmony amongst the household.

Impact of the size of the forecourt:•Length and breadth to be added, and divided by 8.•Balance of 1 is inauspicious.•Balance of 2 is auspicious.•Balance of 3 an 4 are inauspicious.•Balance of 4 is asuba.•Balance of 5 is auspicious.•Balance of 6 is inauspicious

•

5.0 DIRECTIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS•North:

•Direction represent Buddha and contains quality of water (Apo);•Direction related to livelihood;•Untidiness and disorder affects the livelihood;

•Northeast;•Represents the direction related to education and wisdom;•Direction brings strength, courage and determination.

•East ;•Direction where the sun is powerful;

•Southeast;•Directing representing the finances of the house;•Ideal for kitchen/ pantry etc.

•South;•Direction responsible for reputation of the house and the owner.

•Southwest;•Important direction for continuity of a marriage life;•Ideal for a repository of valuables;

•West;

•Northwest;•Ideal directions for the kitchen of landlord.

6. VASTU & VISHVA SHAKHTY – COSMIC ENERGY:

five main elements for human living

• Patavi – earth;• Apo – water;• Thejo – fire;• Vayo – air;• Akashi – space

•Vastu principles are based on the analyses of five sources of energy and their correct utilization;

•It s important to identify directions of these energy sources;

•Otherwise the output design would brings negative merits.

•Any creation has two identified zones, namely Hot Zone and the Cool Zone. Hot zone include south and west half, and the cool zone covers north and east zone.

HOT ZONE

COOL ZONEN

EW

COOL ZONE

COSMIC PRINCIPLES EMBODIED IN VASTU:

•Patavi: Earth - land is required for human being to live on it. Thus it is considered as a basic need of a human being;

•Apo: Water - water is an essential element for human living;

•Thejo: Fire - warmth is needed for blood circulation and other activities of a human being. Therefore, it is considered as a basic element ;

•Vayo: Air – oxygen is an essential elements for human living;

•Akasha: Space - energy is required to be released to sustain human living and for this purpose a space required;

Vastu designs are based on consideration that above five essentials are basic elements for human living, and thus following items/components of a building is governed by them.

01. Door and window locations;02. Allocation of internal spaces;03. Location of exclusive spaces;04. Wall thickness;05. Disposals; and06. Landscaping.

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST NAME CONSEQUENCES

01 D D D NO Dhanada Wealth

02 No No D No Jaya Victory

03 D No No D Nasha Destruction

04 D N D D Vipula Reputation, honor

05 No No No D Bara Poverty

06 No D No D Kantha Heavy expenses

07 No D D D Sumukha Health and wealth

08 D No No No Durmukha Unrest

09 No No D D Manoramya Increase wealth and reduce expenses

10 D D No D Akrandha Suffering

11 D D No No Ugra Losses, unrest

12 D D D D Viaya Wealth and reputation

13 No D No No Dhanya Wealth

14 No D D No Nanda Destruction to women

15 D No D No Ripuda Thefts and enemies

POSITIONING OF DOORS

SELECTION OF LAND/ PLOT FOR CONSTRUCTION:•Higher southern direction good;

•Sloping towards north is good;

•Slope towards the centre line is good;

•Area with excessive noises are not good;

•Northern river/ water course flowing towards east is good;

•Eastern water course flowing from south to north is very good;

•Water course in south or west is not suitable;

•If schools and cinema halls in the vicinity are not good;

•Cul-de-sac plots are not suitable;

SHAPE OF THE LAND IMPACT01 Square Healthy, prosperity, and benefits

02 Rectangular Healthy, treasure, prosperity

03 Circular Intelligence, healthy, comforts

04 Octagon Losses

05 trapezoid (rectangle SW extended W) Multiple troubles

06 Triangular Extremely inauspicious (legal/ unacceptable relationship)

07 Composite/ Multiple form Extremely good living

08 Narrow long Good for animals. Not for people.

09 Polygon (Rectangle less N & S triangles) Loss of wealth

10 Trapezoid (truncated N triangle) Prosperity

11 trapezoid (truncated S triangle unsuitable

12 L shape (narrow to south) Not good. Loss of wealth

13 Oval shape Multiple losses

14 Rectangle (with chamfered NE corner) Financial losses/ stresses/ unrest

15 trapezoid (rectangle SW extended S) Land disputes, legal problems

SHAPE OF THE LAND IMPACT16 Trapezoid (rectangle NE extended N) Good, wealth & prosperity, peaceful

mind

17 Trapezoid (rectangle NW extended N) Inauspicious, not good for health

18 Trapezoid (rectangle SE extended E) Inauspicious, troubles from the state

19 Trapezoid (rectangle SE extended S) Inauspicious, ill health

20 Hexagon Very auspicious

21 Trapezoid (rectangle NW extended W) Auspicious for women

22 Trapezoid (rectangle SW extended W) Bad reputation, mental stresses

23 Rectangle with NW corner chamfered Ill health, losses, fear of robbers/ enemies

24 Rectangle with SE corner chamfered Loss of wealth

25 Rectangle with SW corner chamfered Sickness to wife, mental stresses

26 Trapezoid (rectangle SW extended S) Not suitable

IMPACT OF SLOPES•Land with lower north and east sectors with higher elevations in south and western direction are suitable and brings prosperity;

•Higher elevations in North and east brings financial losses, loss of profit, and ill omen for male children;

•Lower southeast sectors brings financial losses, ill health, fire hazards etc;

•Northern slope is very good;

•If the slope cannot be altered, better to change the direction of water flow;

•Lower south direction causes sickness and reduce lifespan;

•Lower southwest brings fear of robbery; unnecessary expenditure; sickness;

•Slope towards west financial losses, displeasure; unsuitable for male children;

•Slope to northwest financial losses, instability of mind; centre lower, metal stress, sicknesses.

•Depression in the centre causes mental stresses, and multiple sicknesses.

SLOPES AND THEIR APPROPRIATENESS:

•Northern Slope: - very good. Wealth and comforts.

•North-eastern Slope: - very good. Wealth and comforts.

•Eastern Slope: good: - Improvements.

•South-eastern slope: - inappropriate;

•Southern slope ; inappropriate. Death.

Based on the owners astrological chart:

•Land facing east id good for kataka(), vurchika (), and meena ();

• Land facing south is good for mituna(), kanya(), and makara();

•Land facing west is good for vrushaba (), thula (), and kumbha ();

• Land facing north is good for mesha (), Sangha (), dhanu ()

ACCESS ROADS:•North and western good;•All four sides very good;•North and eastern extremely good;•South and western are good for business premises.

N N

NON MERITORIOUS ACCESS ROAD

MERITORIOUS ACCESS ROADS

LOCATION OF ACCESS ROADS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLD

ACCESS MERITS REMARKS

1. North & NE

Very good

Good for females, business, income, and, wealth

2. East Very good

Long life for males, ideal for media offices

3. NE and South

Good Peaceful and happiness; good for females; good for financial institutions.

4. SE and East

Not good

Destructions, jeolsy, accidents and enemies

5. SE, North & NW

Not good

Multiple pressures and impacts.

6. West Good Good for females; idle for individual business; good for everybody.

7. NW, South, SW

Very bad

Unfavorable for money and assets; infect bad habits; not good for women's

8. West, SW

Very bad

No peace and happiness; unfavorable for males; financial losses.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

N

CLASSIFICATION OF HOUSES(Aaya number refers to the balance numeral, when the floor area divided by 8. the method of classification is referred to as Ashta Yoni krama)

AAYA No

AYA NAMA CONSEQUENCES SUITABILITY MAIN DOOR FACADE

1 Dhvaja Reputation Living N,E,S,W East

2 Dhuma Misery

3 Singha Victory Living N, E,S South

4 Shvana/ sunakha Hatred

5 Vrushabha Wealth Business E West

6 Bara Poverty

7 Gaja Comforts living E,S North

8 Dhvanksha/ kaka/Teta Ill health

For calculation, exterior dimensions of the foundation/ plinth. Protruding elements such as verandah and porticoes are not considered for length/ breadth calculations.

Kitchen; office; store; visitors room, toilets; latrine; dog’s kennel; and

garage

Shrine room; living; study room;

dining hall; bedroom; office; bathroom; gym;

balcony; and verandah

Shrine; study; office; gym;

balcony; veranda’ children's’ room

Study; dining; bedroom; office; gym; children's’

room; living; meditation room;

veranda

Study; store; visitor’s room;

toilets; children’s room; living; garbage bin

Stairway; store; visitors’ room; toilet; dining

Master bedroom; office; store;

toilets; guardroom; water

tank.

Kitchen; dining; gym; washing

bay; guard room; outhouses;

servants'’ room; bathroom; garage

RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION OF FACILITIES/ SPACES

N

BEDROOM:•Better to plan on Southern or Western direction;

•Head towards north brings stresses;

•Bed should comprised of four legs, and not to be the box type;

•Bedrooms under Toilets and stairways causes severe stresses;

•Not to keep beds under a ridge plate, a joists/purling, and a concrete beam;

•Better to locate the bed away from the wall;

•If there is a mirror, better not to locate it, to reflect the mirror image to the bed;

•If the master bedroom is not in the same level as the other spaces, it brings the relaxation;

•northwestern bedrooms are ideal for married children.

BEDROOMS (continuing):•Better to locate mirror towards the west and the dressing table on to the Northwestern wall;

•Better to locate toilet away from the bedroom;

•Rooms towards northeast to be allocated for children;

•It is recommended to locate books and newspaper stands either on southwestern or western wall, and, if a writing table, it is to keep on northeast direction;

•TV, Radio are not suitable for bedrooms, but if desperately needed, it is to be located in the southeast direction;

•Master bedroom, first to southwest; secondly to south; thirdly to west; and finally to northwest.

•Never to locate master bedroom in northeast;

•Master bedroom of a multi storied building to be located at the upper floor;

•Ideal colors pink, blue, green, and ash color;

•Never to have an empty southwestern direction.

•Toilet to be attached on west or northern directions.

DINING ROOM:•Important space for day to day living;

•Most suitable for west, north, and eastern directions;

•Kitchen and dining to be on the same floor level;

•Dining table not to be kept align with the main door;

•Dining room not to be allocated on basement or upper floors;

•During the dining, chief of the household sit facing either the east or west, and avoid facing south.

•Sink to be in the northeast direction;

•No toilet to be attached;

•Pink, green and blue are suitable colors, and black and white to be omitted.

TOILETS AND BATHROOMS:

•Northeastern toilets are not god;

•Attached toilets are unfavorable;

•Detached toilets are meritorious;

•If attached toilets are essential, then north, east and west are good;

•White, pink, and ash colors are appropriate.

INTERIOR OF THE TOILET:•west, northwest, and southwest are appropriate;

•Southeast is inappropriate;

•South of he house centre too is extremely bad;

•Commode would not face east or west. Better facing north or south;

•WB, shower, bib tap etc are better to be in northeast;

•Mirror on the eastern wall;

•Soiled cloths on the western wall;

•Vanity unit on the northwestern wall;

•Heater on the southeastern wall;

•Door on the north or east walls;

•Color white, sky blue. Never to use black or red.

LIVING/ SITTING ROOM:•Ideally located in north direction;

•Furniture to be squares or rectangular, and not oval or circular;

•Ornaments to be located in this direction;

•ARC on the west and not on east;

•Ceiling sloping towards northeast is meritorious;

•Furniture on west and southern directions are meritorious;

•White, yellow, green, and blue are suitable. Red and black are inappropriate

•Chief household facing northeast and guest west or south is good.

STUDY ROOM:•Northeastern, west, east are appropriate;

•Studying facing north or east;

•Bookshelf not on northwest or southwest;

•Window on north, east, or west;

•Colored white, light blue, violet, light green;

•Hipped roof is better;

•Study position north, northeast, east, south or west, but facing northeast.

STORE ROOM:•Northwest is good;

•Not to use north or east;

SHRINE ROOM:•Northeast is best; north too is good;

•If on upper floor, no toilets underneath; Statues to face either east or west

•Blue, green, red and yellow are suitable colors.

KITCHEN:•Preferably to the southeast. second best is northeast.

•When cooking facing east is preferable.

•Sink to locate far away from the burner/ fireplace.

•Not to locate bedroom n these directions; kitchen to be same level or at a higher level than the house;

•Sink on north east, gas cylinder on southwest or north west, greaser on southwest, refrigerator on northwest.

•No mirror to be kept in the kitchen;

•Red, green and yellow are the preferable colors.

ETERNAL KITCHENS:•Only southwest and northwest directions are preferable;

LOCATION OF OTHER SPACES:

•Wall cupboards in bedroom, better directions are north and eastern directions;

•Patio in north, northeast, and east, but their roof always lower than the main roof;

•Stairways, preferably, clockwise. North, northeast, southeast, and east are the unfavorable directions; number of steps in odd numerical.

•Wall cupboards to be limited onto south and eastern walls;

•Wall cupboards on southern and western walls;

•Underground tank on northeast direction;

•Attached bath toilet to avoid north, east, northeast directions;•Servants room, to avoid north and eastern walls;

•Basement on northeast or east of the house.

ADDITIONAL TOILETS:

Possibilities:•Connected to west wall on western direction; and, on southwestern direction;

•Connected to south wall on southern direction;

•Connected to southwest wall on southern direction; and, on southwestern direction;

•Attached bathroom can be on north and , east direction;

Inappropriate:•Connected to east wall should not on eastern direction;

•Connected to southeast wall should not on eastern direction;

•Connected to north wall should not on northern direction;

•Connected to northeast wall should not on the north east direction;

•Attached bathroom should not on northeast direction.

OFFICE ROOM:•northeast, southeast, and northwest are most suitable;

PLAYROOM: East, southeast, north are the most appropriate directions;

GARAGE: •Southeast or northwest are good. Never to use north, northeast or east walls;

BALCONY:•South and west are not good: north and east are most suitable; id south and west to be used, extend the roof lowering eave height;

AVOIDABLE:•North: toilets, servants' room, and tall trees;•Northeast: main door, garage, stairs, waste pits, waste disposal tools,

overhead tanks, high grounds, rubble in landscaping, kitchen, toilet, master bedroom, tall trees;

• southeast: main door, master bedroom, living room, basement;•South: living room, basement, well, balcony;•Northeast: visitors room, kitchen, servants' room, main door, basement,

balcony, toilet pits.•West: balcony, basement;•Northwest: main door, master bedroom, well;

BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS:

•ROOF:•Commencement on an auspicious time;

•Customarily, ridge not in the exact centre, may be shift a little;

•Total number of ridges, gutter plates and plates to be in an odd number;

•Rafters set to be in an odd number;

•Props to be an odd number;

•Joints in odd number;

•No three props align;

•No three joints align and parallel;

•No nails to punch through;

•No nails to plate ends;

•Lean to roof is most unsuitable, and roof with five or more slopes are most suitable;

•Ridge plate to align with the main door of a neighboring house is most unsuitable;

•No joints across the centre of house;

•No roof to be joint with the neighboring roof;

BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS: •DOORS:

•Main door known as Mangala Uluvassa, and is displayed different to others in scale and . Decorations;

•Never positioning doors on main/ centre wall (mudun Bittiya);

•Door to be plumbed; inward bend, pressure for occupants with disputes etc. out bend, chief household prefer to stay outside.

•Number of windows to be larger than the doors;

•Door not be faced religious institutions;

•Door not to be aligned with another house;

•Internal doors also not to be aligned;

•No stairways aligned with the main door;

BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS: •DOORS (cont…):

•No internal cistern, drain, tree, gate, well, or a corner of another house in front of the main door, which causes the ill fortune known as Veda Dosha. However, beyond twice the height as well as in the rear of the house is ineffective;

• no doors on the ceremonial foundation stone;

•No doors in the centre of the house;

•No lifting and placing of first doorframe, which is fixed at the auspicious time. However, minor adjustment without lifting is ok; lifting and replacing could be effected with ritualistic functions similar to that of the time of placing the first door frame;

•No door frames above another;

•Main door facing main road is not suitable;

•Extra large doors also bring destruction to the chief household;

•Main door to be two sashes.

BELIEFS ON BUILDING ELEMENTS: •DOORS (cont…):

•Two principal systems of locating main door: •Length of the house divided in to nine divisions, and, Door to be positioned in the division with 05 portions to the south and 03 to the left;•Length of the house divided into 15 divisions, and door to be placed on an auspicious pada;

•Total number of doors to be an odd number;

•Total number of windows to be an even number;

•Cumulative value of doors and windows to be an odd number, excluding 17;

•Doors to be not positioned on centre lines (marma rekha);

•Only cardinal directions to be considered when the doors are located;

•Door positioning based on cardinal directions;

•When facing east on the 3rd division from the left;

•When in south, 6th division from left;

•When in the west, 5th division from left;

•In case of north, 5th division from left.

DOOR CHART:

Dhanya Nanda Ripuda DhanadaJaya

SumakhaKanthaBaraVipulaNasha

VijayaUgraAkranandaManoramya

Durmukha

Gain assets Destruction for female fear of thieves gain assts victory over pujawa

Destructions women