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Understanding Change in Vastu Shastra in Temples within India.

What is vastu?

According the def. it is "science of construction", "architecture") is an ancient doctrine which

consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect

human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments or in simple words the art of

construction according to the natural habitat and surrounding with some basic principles and

thenprinciples of Vastu were obviously formulated keeping in view, the consim influence of the

Sun, its light and heat, the direction of wind, the earths magnetic field & the influence of

cosmos on our planet earth. In Vastu east & west directions are given great importance. The

East as we all know is the gateway to the Suns rays. The north identified with the help of pole

star is the roof of the world.

The principles of the vastu remains the constants all over the world but its manifestation in thearchitecture changes according to the geographic location, topography and climatic

consideration of the place, for e.g. the temples constructed on the hills will be different than

the temples in the plains and the temples on the seacoast.

From the readings of the Indian temples form by M.A. Dhakey where the author has

compared the two medieval temples the first one from the Amrtesvara temple at Holal and

second one from the temple of Kotisvara in Kapputur.

According to his understanding and interpretation the Karnata architects understood the form

such as Nagra , Dravida & Bhumija exactly in the manner comprehended by the writers of thevastushastra of medieval northern India & not like that of text of lower Dravidesa or lower

south.

The definaition of the form Nagra, Dravida pertains only to the various shapes of dravidian

building itself & having no relationship to the Nagra form of Northern India.according to his

research the confusion in the comprehension of the term Nagra, Dravida & Vesara is creation of

contemporary architects, taking south Indian definition meant first and last for local shapes, to

the temple from the northern India, not taking Into account the opinion of the North indian text

in that regard.

He describes the holal inscription in which

By Nagra = North Indian latina & more particularly Shikhra of Decan & Malva.

By Dravida= Upper DravidiansBy Bhumija= main temple type of Malava & seunadesa

By vesara= Their own

By Kalinga=posibilly Phamsana- roof temples of the kind met within the Kalinga territory

According to his research the architectural style or elements changed because of the distintion

between builders for e.g. builders of the kuntala proper,- the country of Calukyas, the

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Kadambas (and the Guptas ), where the representation of non-indigenous forms reflect

familiarity with them which is close & their understanding of these are thorough, and the

builders in the Hoysalanad whose representation, through is not incorrect, have been guided

more by fancy than actuality.

North Indian temple builders, though aware of the Dravidian temple forms, as in evidence by

their vastusastras, never were interested in repeating or actually manipulating these forms.Similarly in south too, the architects in Tamilnadu did not try any other form excepting the

traditional local. But Karnatadesa was acquainted with the styles and culture of the Upper

Deccan & Central India from the sixth century and no of examples of early Northern Indian

Latina were built in the AIhole, Mahakuta, Alampur & many other places during the period of

Chalukyas in the seventh & eighth centuries. The northern influence & close political relation &

cultural ties returned in the medieval period and the tenth century. It is at time that the

buildings of Northern affiliation again began to be known, represented, & even built in the

Karnata territory.

Similarly the architects and masons in the different regions of the country tried to use and

incorporate their needs and requirements in the structures according to their style, they also

used the vernacular styles of decoration, material and building techniques which they have

evolved during the years of time and putting them in the frame of the temple vastu. Actually

vastu acted just as a set of guidelines for temple construction and amendments were made in

those guidelines according to the use & need of the temples. These amendments actually make

the vastu different from one place to the other.

So according to my understanding the change in vastu is not exactly deviating from the

principles or not following them, but just molding them according to their styles, architecture

and needs. This actually also help them to develop unique architectural style following the

same principles.