[Manish Jain]

Mayamatam मयमतम्
TREATISE OF HOUSING, ARCHITECTURE AND ICONOGRAPHY
by bruno dagens, Authentic book on ancient vastu sastra


द्वादशोऽध्यायः
chapter-12 The Foundation Deposit

[ गर्भविन्यासः ]

तैतिलानां द्विजातीनां वर्णानां हर्म्यके गृहे' । गर्भन्यासविधिः' सम्यक् संक्षेपाद् वक्ष्यतेऽधुना ॥ १ ॥ 


सर्वद्रव्यैस्तु सम्पन्नं गर्भं तत् सम्पदां पदम् । द्रव्यहीनमसम्पन्नं गर्भं सर्वविपत्करम् ॥ २ ॥ 

तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन गर्भं सम्यग् विनिक्षिपेत् । गर्भश्वभ्रस्य गाम्भीर्यं स्वाधिष्ठानोन्नते समम् ॥ ३ ॥ 

चतुरश्रसमं कुर्यात् गर्तमिष्टकयाश्मना । आपूर्य सलिलं तस्य मूले सर्वमृदं क्षिपेत् ॥ ४ ॥

निम्नगाह्रद सस्याद्रिवल्मीक कुलिरावटे । हलस्थलाब्धिगोशृङ्गहस्तिदन्तेषु मृत्तिका ॥ ५ ॥

तदूर्ध्वं तस्य मध्ये तु पद्मकन्दं न्यसेत् पुनः । पूर्वे चोत्पलकन्दं च दक्षिणे कौमुदं क्षिपेत् ॥ ६ ॥

सौगन्धिं पश्चिमे विद्यात् "नीललोहमुदग्दिशि । धान्यान्यष्टौ तदूर्ध्वं तु शालिव्रीहिश्च कोद्रवः ॥ ७ ॥ 

कङ्कु मुद्गं च माषं च कुलत्थं च तिलं तथा। प्रादक्षिण्येन शाल्यादीनीशानादिषु विन्यसेत्॥ ८ ॥



THE FOUNDATION DEPOSIT

In a few words, but precisely, I present the rules relating to the placing of the foundation deposit in the temples of gods and in the houses of the twice-born classes. A foundation deposit with all the components (prescribed) is a source of success; an incomplete deposit or the absence of anyone component leads to failure; this is why the foundation deposit should be set in place with the utmost care and without error.

The depth of the pit meant for the deposit is to be equal to the height of the base of the building concerned. (The pit) is square and lined with bricks and stones. After it has been filled with water its bottom should be covered with every sort of earth: from a river, from a pond, from a wheat (field), from a mountain, an anthill, a crab's hole, from the ploughshare, from the horn of a bull or of a buffalo and from an elephant's tusk.

Next should be arranged on that: a root of padma in the middle, one of utpala in the east, one of kumuda in the south, one of saugandhi in the west and one of nilaloba in the north. The eight grains are placed above that: śāli, vrihi, kodrava, kanku, mudga, mâșa, kulattha and tila; the arrangement is made according to the pradakṣiṇa taking śāli in the north-east as the starting point.

[Manish Jain]

[फेला ]

तस्योपरि निधातव्यं मञ्जूषं ताम्रनिर्मितम् । त्रिचतुर्मात्रविस्ताराद् द्विद्वयङ्गुलविवर्धनात् ॥ ९ ॥

पञ्चषड्विंशमात्रान्तं मानं द्वादश भाजने। समोच्चं वाऽष्टषट्पञ्चभागोनं वा तदुच्छ्रयम् ॥ १० ॥

एकादिद्वादशान्तानां हर्म्याणामुदितं क्रमात् । गृहीतोच्चत्रिभागैकं पादालम्बिविधानकम् ॥ ११ ॥

तत्तद्धर्म्याङ्घ्रिविष्कम्भसमं वाष्टांशहीनकम् ।त्रिपादं वा विशालं तत् फेलायाः प्रागिवोच्छ्रयम्” ॥ १२ ॥

त्रिवर्गमण्डपाकारं वृत्तं वा चतुरश्रकम् । पञ्चविंशतिकोष्ठं वा नवकोष्ठकमेव वा ॥ १३ ॥

फेलोच्चार्धत्रिभागैकं कोष्ठभित्त्युच्छ्रयं भवेत् । ^तद्भित्तिघनतां कुर्याद् यवैर्द्वित्रिचतुष्टयैः ॥ १४ ॥

उपपीठपदे देवाः पञ्चविंशति सम्मताः ॐ ।

The casket

Over this is placed a copper casket: there are twelve possible width for this receptacle, from three to four digits to twenty-five to twenty-six digits by successive increments of two digits. Its height is equal (to it width) or less by an eighth, sixth or fifth. (These twelve sets o dimensions) are suitable for buildings of, respectively, one to twelve (storeys). (Otherwise the width of the casket) is the third of (its) heigh chosen according to the rules given for pillars (?). (Otherwise) it i equal to the diameter of the pillar of the building concerned or to seven eighths or three quarters of that diameter;" regarding the height (it i calculated) as above.

The casket is shaped like a pavilion with three levels of elevation. It is circular or square and comprises twenty-five or nine compartments, the height of the partitions dividing (these last) is half or one-third that of the casket; their thickness should be two, three or four barley grains. If it corresponds to the upapitha diagram then twenty-five gods are honoured therein.

[Manish Jain]

[ गर्भस्थापनम् ]

श्वभोर्ध्वभूतलं सर्वं गन्धैः पुष्पैश्च दीपकैः ।। १५ ।।

वासयित्वा तु पूर्वेद्युः पञ्चगव्यैस्तु भाजनम् । प्रक्षाल्य सूत्रैरावेष्ट्य” शुद्धशाल्यास्तरे शुभे ॥ १६ ॥

स्थण्डिले चण्डितं कृत्वा मण्डूकं वाऽथ तत्परम् । विन्यस्य देवान् ब्रह्मादीन् श्वेततण्डुलधारया ॥ १७ ॥

आराध्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्भुवनाधिपतिं“ जपेत् । स्थपतिः कलशान् न्यस्य*" सर्वान् वस्त्रविभूषितान् ॥ १८ ॥

सुगन्धोदकसम्पूर्णान् गन्धपुष्पसमर्चितान् । निष्कलङ्कानसुषिरान् पञ्चपञ्चैव सूत्रितान् ॥ १९ ॥

तस्य प्रदक्षिणे “गन्धशालिस्थण्डिलमण्डले" । आराध्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्बलिं दत्त्वा यथाविधि ॥ २० ॥

भाजनाय ततः ¨पात्रं वेष्टयेच्छ्रेतवाससा श्वेतवस्त्रास्तरस्योर्ध्वे न्यसेद दर्भास्तरे शुचिः ॥ २१ ॥

पीत्वा शुद्धं पयो रात्रावुपोष्याधिवसेत् ततः । स्थपतिः शास्त्रवित् प्राज्ञः4 सूत्रग्राह्यादिसेवितः ॥ २२ ॥

धान्यादीन्यथ वस्तूनि भाजनाभ्यन्तरे न्यसेत् । हेमराजतशुल्बैश्च शालिव्रीहिकुलत्थकान्“ ॥ २३ ॥

त्रपुणा कङ्कु सीसेन माषो मुद्गोऽयसायसा¨। कोद्रवं च तिलं भाव्यं वैकृन्तेन” प्रयत्नतः ॥ २४ ॥

ईशादिषु न्यसेदेतान्यष्टदिक्षु यथाक्रमम् । जयन्ते जातिहिङ्गुल्यं हरितालं भृशे मतम् ॥ २५॥

मनःशिला च वितथे भृङ्गराजे तु माक्षिकम् । राजावर्तं तु सुग्रीवे शोषे गैरिकमीरितम् ॥ २६ ॥

अञ्जनं गणमुख्ये स्यादुदितौ दरदं विदुः । मध्यमे पद्मरागं तु मरीचौ विद्रुमं॰“ मतम् ॥ २७ ॥

सविन्द्रे पुष्परागं तु वैडूर्यं स्याद् विवस्वति । वज्रमिन्द्रजये विद्यादिन्द्रनीलं तु मित्रके ॥ २८ ॥

रुद्रराजे महानीलं मरकतं मु महीधरे । मुक्तापवत्से मध्यादिपूर्वेण क्रमशो" न्यसेत् ॥ २९ ॥

विष्णुक्रान्ता त्रिशूला” श्रीः सहा दूर्वा च भृङ्गकम् । अपामार्गैकपत्राब्जमीशादिष्वौषधान्यसेत् ॥ ३० ॥

चन्दनागरुकर्पूरलवङ्गैलालताफलम् । तक्कोलेनाष्टगन्धांस्तु जयन्तादिषु विन्यसेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

स्वस्तिकानि चतुर्दिक्षु हेमायस्ताम्ररूप्यकैः | सर्वेषामपि सामान्यमेतच्चिद्वैस्तु लक्ष्यते ॥ ३२ ॥

Placing the deposit

On the eve (of the day of ceremony), the ground around the pit should be perfumed and incensed and lamps (should be arranged there). The casket should be washed in the mixture of the five products of the cow and it should be covered by threads. Then when a candita-also called mandūka-diagram has been drawn on the sacrificial ground which is covered with an even coat of rice, unhusked and pure, the gods starting with Brahmă, are installed with an offering of hulled white rice.

Then the architect, in a whisper invokes, the Lord of the World, having propitiated Him with offerings of flowers, perfumes... etc. Pitchers are arranged next, all of them covered with linen, filled with pleasantly perfumed water, surrounded by fragrant flowers and not pierced or sullied and arranged five to a line.

On the diagram drawn upon the sacrificial ground made of perfumed rice, after flowers, perfumes... etc. have been scattered, an offering is made to the casket in a clockwise direction and according to rule. The casket is then wrapped in white cloth and the sage places it upon white linen on a spread of darbha grass.

Finally, after drinking pure water and fasting, the architect who knows the treatises, the sage, honoured by the sutragrabin and his other assistants, settles himself for the night.

In (the eight compartments corresponding to the cardinal and inter mediate directions) beginning with that of Isa, the medicinal plants are arranged: vişnukräntä, triśülā, śri, sabà, durva, bhṛngaka, apamärga and ekapatrabja. Then, in the (the compartments of the gods) beginning with Jayanta the eight fragrant plants are arranged: sandalwood, bdellium, camphor, clove, cardamon, latapbala, takkola and ina." Lastly, svastika, in gold, iron, copper and silver, should be placed at the cardinal points.

What has been given is fitting for all (gods) but each one has his specific attributes (which will now be presented).

(Next day the architect) arranges the component in the casket, starting with the grains; the sali, figured in gold, the uribi in silver, the kulattha in copper, the kanku in tin, the mășa in lead, the mudga in iron, the kodrava in iron and the tila in mercury;" the placing of the grains is to be done with care in the given order to the eight directions beginning with that of Isa (in the north-east).

It is known that (next) cinnabar is put in (the compartment of) Jayanta, in (that of) Bhrsa orpiment, in (that of) Vitatha red arsenic, in (that of) Bhrigarāja red chalk, in (that of) Sugriva lapis lazuli, in (that) of) Sosa hematite, in (that of) Ganamukhya antimony and in (that of) Uditi red copper.



29 In the central (compartment) should be a ruby, in (that of) Marici coral, in (that of) Savindra a topaz, in (that of) Vivasvant a tiger's eye; a diamond is prescribed for (the compartment of) Indrajaya, for (that of) Mitraka an indranila sapphire, for (that of) Rudraraja a mahānila sapphire, for (that of) Mahidhara an emerald, and a pearl for that of Apavatsa; these are all to be placed in the inner (compartments of the casket) starting at the centre and proceeding towards the east, etc.

[Manish Jain]

[ शिवगर्भम् ]

कपालशूलखवाङ्गं परशुं वृषभं तथा । पिनाकं हरिणं पाशं हैमं पूर्वादिषु न्यसेत् ॥ ३३ ॥

कार्तस्वरमयं चाष्टमङ्गलं तत्र पूर्ववत् । दर्पणं पूर्णकुम्भं च वृषभं युग्मचामरम् ॥ ३४ ॥

श्रीवत्सं स्वस्तिकं शङ्खं दीपं॰ देवाष्टमङ्गलम् । स्थापकस्यानुशिष्यस्तान् स्थपतिः क्रमशो न्यसेत् ॥ ३५ ।।

आच्छाद्य भाजनं शुभ्रं पिधानेन तु निश्चलम् । तमेवाराध्य गन्धाद्यैः स्नापयेत् कलशोदकैः ॥ ३६ ॥

विप्रस्वाध्यायघोषैश्च शङ्खभेर्यादिनिःस्वनैः । कल्याणजयघोषैश्च स्थपतिः स्थापकेन तु ॥ ३७ ।।

पुष्पकुण्डलहारादिकटकैरङ्गुलीयकैः | पञ्चाङ्गभूषणैर्हेमनिर्मितैश्च विभूषणै: ॥ ३८ ॥

हेमयज्ञोपवीतस्तु नववस्त्रोत्तरीयकः । श्वेतानुलेपनश्चैव सितपुष्पशिराः शुचिः ॥ ३९ ॥

ध्यात्वा धरातलं सर्वं दिग्द्विपेन्द्रसमन्वितम्” । ससागरं सशैलेन्द्रमनन्तस्योपरि स्थितम् ॥ ४० ॥

सृष्टिस्थितिलयाधारं भुवनाधिपतिं जपेत् । ब्रह्मादीनां च देवानां देवीनां द्वारदक्षिणे ॥ ४१ ॥

स्तम्भमूले यथायोगं गर्ते गर्भं निधापयेत् होमस्तम्भे प्रतिस्तम्भे पादुकाच्च प्रतेरधः ॥ ४२ ॥

तस्मादत्युन्नतं निम्नं गर्भं सम्पद्विनाशकृत्' । चतुरश्रीकृता सारवृक्षपाषाणनिर्मिता' ॥ ४३ ॥

पात्रद्विगुणविस्तारा पञ्चाङ्गलघनान्विता । प्रतिमाफलका या सा स्थाप्या तद्भाजनोपरि ॥ ४४॥

तदूर्ध्वे स्थापयेत स्तम्भं संश्लिष्टचतुरिष्टकम् | सरत्नौषधिभिर्युक्तं वस्त्रपुष्पादिशोभितम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Foundation deposit for the Siva temple. A skull, a trident, a khatvanga, an axe, a bull, a bow, a gazelle and a noose, all in gold, should be placed in the main directions beginning with the east. The eight auspicious objects in gold should be placed according to the same disposition: mirror, vase of plenty, bull, double fly-whisk, śrivatsa, svastika, conch and lamp; the wise architect arranges them in order according to the direction of the sthapaka,

Then, the perfect and strong casket having been closed with a lid, propitiatory offerings of perfumes and other things having been made to it, the lid should be purified with waters from the pitchers. Next, whilst the brahmins whisper the Veda, whilst conches, drums and other instru ments sound and cries of joy and victory are raised, the architect, accompanied by the sthapaka, the five parts of his body adorned with flowers, ear-rings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, having donned the sacred thread of gold, dressed in new clothes and wearing a scarf, anointed with white (paste), head covered with white flowers, and purified, must first meditate upon the surface of the Earth in Her whole ness, for it is She who supports the elephants, lords of the cardinal points, and, who, together with the ocean and the lords of the mountains, rests upon Ananta; then, in a murmur he invokes the Lord of the World, responsible for creation, preservation and destruction.

The deposit is placed according to rule in a hole beneath a pillar to the right of the door (of the shrines) of Brahmi and other gods and goddesses; it must be under the bomastambba and below the plinth or under the pratistambba and below the stercobate if it is placed too high or too low in relation (to plinth or stercobate) deposit will be source of misfortune.

Above the casket a slab should be set, made of hard wood or stone, 26 twice as wide as the casket, five digits thick and bearing images. Above this is installed a pillar held up by four bricks, ornamented with precious stones and plants and decorated with fabrics, flowers... etc.

[Manish Jain]

[ विष्णुगर्भम् ]

विष्णुधिष्ण्ये च गर्भं स्याद्धैमं चक्रं तु मध्यमे ॥ ४६ ॥

शङ्खकार्मुकदण्डं च रुक्ममायसनन्दकम्' धनुः शङ्ख च वामे तु खङ्गं दण्डं च दक्षिणे ॥ ४७॥

प्रमुखे वैनतेयं च स्थापयेद्धेमनिर्मितम् ।

[ ब्रह्मगर्भम् ]

यज्ञोपवीतमोङ्कारं स्वस्तिकाग्निं च हेमजम् ॥ ४८ ॥

पद्मं कंमण्डलुं चाक्षसूत्रदर्भाश्च ताम्रजाः । ब्रह्मासनपदे मध्येऽम्बुरुहं ।” स्थाप्यमेव च ॥ ४९ ॥

तस्मिन्मध्ये तदोङ्कारं यज्ञसूत्रावृतं तु तत् । स्वस्तिकानि चतुर्दिक्षु वामे स्थाप्यं कमण्डलु ॥ ५० ॥

कुशाक्षमालां वांमे तु पुरस्तीक्ष्णानलं क्षिपेत् । ब्रह्मगर्भमिदं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मस्थाने प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ ५१ ॥

Deposit for Visnu

The deposit for the Visnu shrine comprises a discus in gold in the centre as well as a conch, a bow, a mace and a sword, (all) in gold; the bow and the conch are to the left, the sword and the mace to the right; Vainateya in gold should be placed in the front.

Deposit for Brahma

There is sacrificial thread, OM, svastika, and an image of Fire, all in gold as well as a lotus, a flask and a rosary of darbba, (these last) in copper. The lotus should be set down at the centre of them, at the place of Brahma's throne and, in its centre, OM encircled by the sacrificial thread; the svastika are at the cardinal points, the flask and the rosary of kusa to the left and the burning fire in front. Such is the deposit of Brahma to be put at the place of Brahma.

[Manish Jain]

[ षण्मुखगर्भम् ]

स्वस्तिकं चाक्षमालां च शक्तिं चक्रं च कुक्कुटम् । मयूंरं चैव सौवर्णमयसा शक्तिमध्यमे ॥ ५२ ॥

वामे च कुक्कुटं दद्याद् दक्षिणे च मूयरकम् । अक्षसूत्रं पुरः स्थाप्यं गर्भं षण्मुखसद्मनि ॥ ५३ ॥

अम्बुजं चाङ्कुशं पाशं सिंहं सवितृधामके वज्रेभं नन्दकं चक्रं चामरं धाग्नि वज्रिणः ॥ ५४ ॥

जाम्बूनदमयं मेषं शक्तिं पावकधामनि । अयसा महिषं पाशं हेमजं यमधामनि ॥ ५५ ॥

अयसा नन्दकं गर्भ निर्ऋतेस्तु विमानके । वरुणे मकरं पाशं लोहजं हेमजं तथा ॥ ५६ ॥

वायोः कृष्णमृगं हैमं व्यालं तारापतेः क्षिपेत् । नरवाहे नरः प्रोक्तो मकरो मदनालये ॥ ५७ ॥

टङ्कं दन्ताक्षमाला च विघ्नेशावासगर्भके । ओङ्कारं वक्रदण्डं च सौवर्णं चार्यकस्य तु ।। ५८ ।।

अश्वत्थं करकं सिंहं छत्रं स्वर्णे कारयेत् त् । अश्वत्थः पुरतः स्थाप्यश्छत्रं तस्योपरि स्थितम् ॥ ५९ ॥

कुण्डिकापरभागे तु केसरी दक्षिणे भवेत् । सौगते धामके गर्भ श्रीवत्साशोकसिंहकम् ॥ ६० ॥

कमण्डल्वक्षमाला च शिखिपिञ्छं तु हेमजम् त्रिच्छत्रं करकं तालवृन्तं रुक्ममयं भवेत् ॥ ६१ ॥

वृक्षस्तु पुरतः स्थाप्यश्छत्रं तस्योपरि स्थितम् । पिञ्छं दक्षिणभागेऽक्षमाला वामे तु कुण्डिका ॥ ६२ ।।

श्रीरूपं मध्यमे स्थाप्यं केसरीं तत्र विन्यसेत् । अपरे करकं तालवृन्तं गर्भो जिनालये ॥ ६३ ॥

शुकं चक्रं च हैमं तु सिंहं शङ्ख च राजतम् । मृगं ताम्रमयं चैव कृष्णलोहेन नन्दकम् ॥ ६४ ।।

एवं दुर्गाविमाने तु गर्भ कुर्याद् विचक्षणः । खट्वाङ्गं नन्दकं शक्तिं क्षेत्रपालस्य हेमजम् ॥ ६५ ॥

पद्मं लक्ष्म्याः सरस्वत्या ओङ्कारं च त्रिवर्णकम् ।ध्वामकेतूत्पलं हैमं ज्येष्ठाकोष्ठस्य गर्भके ॥ ६६ ॥

कपालशूलघण्टाभिः प्रेतान् कालीगृहे न्यसेत् । हंसोक्षशिखितार्यांश्च सिंहेभप्रेतरूपकान् ॥ ६७ ॥

जाम्बूनदमयान् मातृकोष्ठकेषु निधापयेत् । पद्माक्षसूत्रकं दीपं रोहिणीगृहगर्भ के ॥ ६८ ॥

दर्पणं चाक्षमालां च पार्वतीभवने विदुः। पद्माक्षसूत्रकं पूर्णकुम्भं मोहिनिधामनि ॥ ६९ ॥

छत्रध्वजपताकाश्च सचिद्वैः सह वाहनैः | अनुक्तानां च देवानां देवीनां गर्भमिष्यते ॥ ७० ॥

Deposit for Şanmukha

The foundation deposit for the dwelling of Sanmukha comprises suas tika, rosary, spear, discus, cock and peacock in gold; the spear, in iron, in the middle, the cock to the left, the peacock to the right and the rosary in front.

Deposits for other Attendants (The foundation deposit) for the shrine of Savitr (comprises) a lotus, an elephant goad, a noose and a lion.For the temple of Vajrin it is a thunderbolt (vajra), an elephant, a discus and a fly-whisk. That for the shrine of Păvaka comprises a ram in Jambu gold and a spear; that of Yama, a water buffalo in iron and noose in gold; the deposit for the shrine of Nirrti comprises a sword in iron; that of Varuna a makara in copper and a noose in gold; a black gazelle in gold should be placed for Vayu and a uyala for the consort of Tară. The image of a man is prescribed for the temple of Naravähä (Kubera) and that of a makara for the shrine of Madana. For the dwelling of Vighnesa the deposit comprises an axe and an ivory rosary; for Aryaka there should be OM and a crooked stick in gold.

For foundation deposit of the shrine of Sugata are to be made in gold an asvattha, a vase, a lion and an umbrella; the asvattha should be in front, the umbrella above it, the vase to the left and the lion to the right.

The deposit for the shrine of Jina comprises a śrivatsa, an aśoka, a lion, a flask, a rosary, a peacock's tail in gold, a triple umbrella, a karaka vase and a gold fan; the tree must be in front and the umbrella above (it), the tail (of the peacock) to the right and the rosary together with the flask to the left; in the centre is the śrirupa and the lion; the karaka vase and the fan are to the left.

The sage must arrange the deposit for the shrine of Durga in the following way: a parrot and discus in gold, a lion and a conch in silver, a gazelle in copper and an iron sword. For Ksetrapala there are khatvanga, sword, and spear in gold. For Lakşmi there should be a padma, for Sarasvati OM in three letters. In the deposit for the shrine of Jyestha there should be a standard figuring a crow, and an utpala in gold.

In the Kali temple should be placed preta as well as a skull, a trident and a bell. In the shrine of the Mothers there should be gold images of hamsa, bull, peacock, Garuda, lion, elephant and preta. The deposit for the shrine of Rohini comprises a lotus rosary and a lamp and it is known that in the shrine of Pärvati there must be a mirror and a rosary and in that of Mohini, a lotus rosary and a vase of plenty.

For gods and goddesses who have not been mentioned, the foundation deposit is to comprise umbrellas, standards and emblems with the attributes of the gods and images of their mounts.