[Manish Jain]

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


नवमोऽध्यायः 
CHAPTER 9 : VILLAGES PLANNING


[ ग्रामविन्यासः ]

ग्रामादीनां मानं विन्यासं चापि वक्ष्यते विधिना ।

[ पुनर्मानोपकरणम् ]

दण्डानां पञ्चशतं क्रोशं’ तद्विगुणमर्धगव्यूतम् ॥ १ ॥ गव्यूतं तद्विगुणं ह्याष्टसहस्त्रं तु योजनं विद्यात् । अष्टधनुश्चतुरश्रा काकणिका तच्चतुर्गुणं माषम् ॥ २ ॥ माषचतुर्वर्तनकं॰ तत्पञ्चगुणं हि वाटिका कथिता' । वाटिकया युगगुणिता ग्रामकुटुम्बावनिः श्रेष्ठा ॥ ३ ॥ एवं भूगतमानं दण्डैस्तेषां तु वक्ष्यते मानम् ।

[ ग्रामादिमानम् ] ग्रामस्य शतसहस्त्रैर्दण्डैः पर्यन्तमानमिदमुक्तम्’ ॥४॥ विंशतिसहस्रदण्डात् तत्समवृद्ध्या तु पञ्चमानं स्यात् ।

ग्रामे विंशतिभागे कुटुम्बभूमिस्तदेकभागेन ॥ ५ ॥ "दण्डैः पञ्चशतैर्यद्धीनं ग्रामस्य मानमिदम् ।

तस्मात् पञ्चशतद्धर्चा" यावद् विंशत्सहस्त्रदण्डान्तम् ॥ ६ ॥ प्रोक्तं चत्वारिंशद्भेदं ग्रामस्य मानमिदम् । द्विसहस्रदण्डमानं" सार्धसहस्रं सहस्रदण्डं च ॥ ७ ॥ नवशतमथ सप्तशतं पञ्चशतं त्रिशतमिति च विस्तारम् । नगरस्य "सहस्रादिद्विसहस्रान्तं च दण्डमानं स्यात् ॥ ८॥ नगरस्याष्टसहस्त्रैर्दण्डैः पर्यन्तमानमिदम् । "द्विद्विसहस्रक्षयतो द्विसहस्रान्तं चतुर्विधं मानम् ॥ ९ ॥ " ग्रामः खेटः खर्वटमथ दुर्गं नगरमिति च पञ्चविधम् । दण्डैस्तेषां मानं वक्ष्येऽहं त्रित्रिभेदभिन्नानाम् ॥ १० ॥ चतुरधिकषष्टिदण्डो ग्रामः स्याद्धीनहीनमिति कथितः " । 17 ग्रामस्य मध्यमस्य द्विगुणं त्रिगुणं तथोत्तमं प्रोक्तम् ॥ ११ ॥ षट्पञ्चाशद्द्वशतं हीनं खेटं सविंशति त्रिशतम्। मध्यममुत्तममेवं सचतुरशीति त्रिशतदण्डम् ॥ १२ ॥ अष्टौ चत्वारिंशच्चतुःशतं द्वादशं च पञ्चशतम् । षट्सप्ततिपञ्चशतं” हीनं मध्योत्तमं च खर्वटकम् ॥ १३ ॥
 चत्वारिंशत्षट्शतमधमं दुर्गं चतुःसप्तशतदण्डम् । मध्यममुत्तमदुर्गं सप्तशतं षष्टिरष्टौ हि ॥ १४ ॥ द्वात्रिंशदष्टशतकं नगरं षण्णवत्यष्टशतदण्डम् । षष्टिर्नवशतमधमं मध्यममुत्कृष्टमिति यथासंख्यम्॥ १५॥ षोडशदण्डविवृद्ध्या प्रत्येकं नवविधं भवति । द्विगुणं त्रिपादमर्धं पादं तेषां मुखायतं विपुलात्” ॥ १६ ॥ व्यासषडष्टांशैकं22 चतुरश्रं वा यथेष्टं स्यात् । तस्मिन् विपुलायामे दण्डैरोजैः प्रमाणमात्तव्यम्॥ १७॥ शेषं वाटधरार्थं23 ग्रामादिषु सर्ववस्तुषु च ।


Now the dimensions and plans for villages and other settlements are set out according to the rule.

The system of measurements (cont.)

lb-2a It is to be known that five hundred poles (danda) make one krośa twice of which is half a gauyuta and twice that is a gavyuta; eight thousand poles are one yojana?

2b-fa

A square, eight poles square, is a kakani; four times that is a mâșa, four times which is a vartanaka, five times one vartanaka is a vatakā whose quadruple is the area precisely suitable for a family plot in a village (Kutumbatani should designate here an area of agricultural land (and not "a residential block general inhabited by kinsmen" as suggested by Dutt, op cit p. 203) Anbil copperplaten mention the gift of ten täfika of land as an ekahboga brahmadeya ). These are area measurements; herewith the dimensions of (villages) given in poles.

Dimensions of villages and other settlements

The largest size for a village is one hundred thousand poles; starting with twenty thousand poles and, with regular increments (of twenty thousand), five dimensions suitable for a village are obtained.(The dimensions given here are most probably those of the territory controlled by the settlement and not of the settlement itself (see 104 where the size of the biggest of the capitals is given as 16000 poles)
The plot intended for a family occupies one-twentieth of the village (?)."

The smallest size for a village is five hundred poles; by starting with this figure and proceeding to twenty thousand poles by successive increments of five hundred poles, forty dimensions suitable for villages are obtained. 

5-8a The width (of village) is two thousand poles, one thousand five hundred, one thousand, nine hundred, seven hundred, five hundred or

three hundred poles. The dimensions of a town (nagara), given in poles, are from one thousand to two thousand. The largest size for a town is eight thousand poles; (starting with this figure) and reducing it successively by two thousand, four sizes for a town are obtained, 5-9a

Village, kheta, kharvata, fort and town: these are the five (settlements) for which I am going to give the dimensions in poles with three variations for each.

The smallest village is said to be sixty-four poles (wide), the medium village is twice that wi and the large one triple. A small kheta is two hundred and sixty-six poles, a medium one three hundred and twenty and a large one three hundred and eighty-four. The respective dimensions of small, medium and large kharvata are four hundred and forty-eight, five hundred and twelve and five hundred and seventy-six poles.

A small fort is six hundred and forty poles (wide), a medium one, seven hundred and four and a large one, seven hundred and sixty-eight. Small, medium and large towns are respectively, eight hundred and thirty-two, eight hundred and ninety-six and nine hundred and sixty poles wide.

If sixteen pole increment are used, there are nine more possibilities for each. The length is double the width or three quarters, one half or a quarter (greater) or may be a sixth or eighth (more); otherwise the plan may be square if so desired.

The basic dimensions (of the settlement) will be taken from that width and length making an odd number of poles; the remainder will belong to the area which is not built up,10 this is the procedure for all sites such as villages etc....

[Manish Jain]

[ आयादि ]

आयादिसम्पदर्थं वृद्धिं हानिं च यष्टिभिः कुर्यात् ॥ १८ ॥ 

आयव्ययर्क्षयोन्यायुभिरथ“ तिथिभिश्च वारैश्च । 2" यजमानवस्तुनामजन्मर्क्षेणाविरोधिकं यत्तु ॥ १९ ॥ 
तन्मानेन समेतं गृह्णीयात् सर्वसम्पत्तयै¨ व्यासायामसमूहे वसुनिधिगुणिते दिनेशधर्महृते " ॥ २० ॥ 
आयव्ययमवशिष्टं " रामघ्नेऽष्टापहच्छेषम् । 28 ध्वजधूमसिंहश्वावृषखरगजकाकाश्च योनिगणाः ॥ २१ ॥ २१॥ अष्टौ योनय उदिता ध्वजहरिवृषहस्तिनः शुभदाः” । पुनरपि वसुभिर्गुणिते त्रिनवाहत्या फलं वयः" शिष्टम् ॥ २२ ॥ 

नक्षत्रं परिणाहे त्रिंशद्वयाप्ते तिथिर्यमीशहते । वारं सूर्यमुखं स्याद् बुद्धैवं सर्ववस्तु करणीयम् ॥ २३ ॥ आयाधिकमथ सुखदं व्ययमधिकं सर्वनाशं स्यात् । विपरीते तु विपत्त्यै तस्मात् सम्यक् परीक्ष्य कर्तव्यम् ॥ २४ ॥

[ विप्रसंख्या ]

द्वादशसहस्त्रविप्रर्यन्निष्ठित मुत्तमोत्तमं ग्रामम् । दशसाहस्रैर्मध्यममधमं स्यादष्टसाहस्रैः ॥ २५ ॥ सप्तसहस्रैर्विप्रैर्मध्यमोत्तममित्यभीष्टं स्यात् । षट्साहस्रैर्मध्यममधमं तु पञ्चसाहस्रैः ॥ २६ ॥ 37 अधमोत्तमं तु चातुःसाहस्रैस्तु त्रिसाहस्रैः । अधमसमं द्विसहस्त्रैरधमाधममेव निर्दिष्टम् ॥ २७ ॥ साहस्रैर्द्विजसङ्घैर्नीचोत्तममाहुराचार्याः । सप्तशतैरधममध्यममिह पञ्चशतैस्तु नीचाल्पम् ॥ २८ ॥ साष्टशतं तु द्विगुणं त्रिगुणं वेदाधिकं तथाशीतिः । "अष्टाष्टकपञ्चाशद् द्वात्रिंशच्च त्रिरष्टौ हि ॥ २९ ॥ 36 द्वादशषोडशविप्रर्दशभेदं क्षुद्रकं ग्रामम् । अन्यदशक्तानां चेद् दानं दशभूसुरान्तमेकादि ॥ ३० ॥

एककुटुम्बिससमेतं कुटिकं स्यादेकभोगमिति कथितम् । तस्य सुखालयमिष्टं" शेषाणां दण्डकादीनि ॥ ३१ ॥ 42युग्मायुग्मविभागैर्द्विविधं स्यात् सर्ववस्तुविन्यासम् । युग्मे सूत्रपथं 3 स्यादसमे पदमध्यमे च वीथी" स्यात् ॥ ३२ ॥ अन्योन्यसङ्करश्चेदशुभं स्यात् सर्वजन्तूनाम् ।

[ ग्रामनामानि ] दण्डकमपरं's स्वस्तिकमित ऊर्ध्वं प्रस्तरं चैव ॥ ३३ ॥ पश्चात् प्रकीर्णकं स्यान्नन्द्यावर्तं परागमथ पद्मम् । स्याच्छ्रीप्रतिष्ठितेनैवाष्टविधं ग्राममुद्दिष्टम् ॥ ३४ ॥



The ayadi system

(The dimensions given) in poles have to be increased or reduced so as to agree with the dyadi series. In order that a perfect result may be achieved (a site) must be selected whose dimensions are not in opposition to the 'gains', 'losses', 'asterisms', 'matrices', 'ages', 'solar days' and 'lunar days' nor to the asterisms of the founder nor to his name nor to that of the place itself.

The sum of the length and the width having been multiplied by eight and by nine and the (product obtained) divided by twelve and ten, the remainders are the 'gain' on the one hand and the loss' on the other. (The sum of the length and the width) having been multiplied by three and (the product) divided by eight, (the remainder) corresponds to one of the eight matrices which are tag, cloud, lion', 'dog', 'bull, donkey, elephant, and crow, amongst these "tag", "tion', 'bull' and 'elephant' are auspicious

226-23 Next, (the sum of the length and the width) having been multiplied by eight and (the product) divided by twenty-seven, the quotient (phate) is the age' (nows) and the remainder (corresponds) to the asterism; if (the same) product is divided by thirty, (the remainder corresponds to) the solar days, the first of which is Sunday. The entire construction must be made in this knowledge.

It is auspicious that the gain' be superior (to the loss') and totally inauspicious should the 'loss' be superior (to the 'gain'). As the trans gression of these rules leads to failure, nothing should be undertaken prior to deep study (of the subject)

Number of Brahmins

25-28 The largest village of the highest category is that where there are twelve thousand brahmins, the medium village where they are ten thousand, and the small where they are eight thousand. It is prescribed that seven thousand brahmins be installed in a large village of the intermediate category, six thousand in a medium one and five thousand in a small one. Four thousand are prescribed for the largest village in the inferior category, three thousand for the medium and two thousand for the small; the experts ordain that there be a thousand brahmins in the largest village of the last category, seven hundred in the intermediate one and five hundred in a small one.

29-30 There are ten varieties of small villages which house respectively: one hundred and eight, two hundred and sixteen, three hundred and twenty four,¹2 eighty four, sixty-four, fifty, thirty-two, twenty-four, twelve and 12 sixteen brahmins. When there is no alternative the gift (of land) is to be given to brahmins in the number of one to ten

A village in which there is only one family is a kufika, also called ekabboga" A sukbalaya house should be constructed here and dandaka houses elsewhere."

32-33a There are two sorts of diagrams pertaining to the setting up of all constructions: those consisting of an even number of squares and those where the number is odd. If the number is even, the streets should be drawn along the lines (of the diagram) and, if odd, they should go through the middle of (rows of) squares; any confusion brings misfortune to the inhabitants.

Names of villages

33b-34 It is said that there are eight types of villages: dandaka, svastika, prastara, prakimaka, nandyavarta, paraga, padma and śripratiştbita."

[Manish Jain]

[ वीथिविधानम् ]

सर्वेषां ग्रामाणां मङ्गलवीथ्यावृता” बहिस्त्वबहिः । ब्रह्मस्थानं ह्युदितं तस्मिन् देवालयं तु वा पीठम् ॥ ३५ ॥

एकद्वित्रिचतुर्भिः पञ्चभिरपि कार्मुकैश्च मार्गततिः । प्राक्प्रत्यग्गतमार्गा ऋतुदण्डमहापथाख्यास्ते ॥ ३६ ।। 50 मध्यमयुक्ता वीथी ब्रह्माख्या सैव नाभिः स्यात् । द्वारसमेता वीथी राजाख्या च द्विपार्श्वतः क्षुद्रा ।। ३७ ।। सर्वाः कुट्टिमकाख्या मङ्गलवीथी तथैव रथमार्गम्" । तिर्यग्द्वारसमेता नाराचपथा इति ख्याता ।। ३८ ।। उत्तरदिङ्मुखमार्गाः क्षुद्रार्गलवामनाख्यपथाः2। ग्रामावृता मङ्गलवीथिकाख्या पुरावृता या जनवीथिका स्यात् । तयोस्तु रथ्याभिहिताभिधा स्यात् ” पुरातनैरन्यतमेष्वथैवम् ॥ ३९ ३ ||






Streets

The street on the internal or external periphery of all villages is called mangalavitbi; a temple or an altar is installed at the centre which is called the place of Brahma.

The width of a street is one, two, three, four or five poles¹8 but those 18 which traverse (the village) from east to west are six poles (wide) and are called 'main streets. The street (which encircles) the middle of the village is called brahmavithi and is the 'navel' (of the village).20 The roads leading to the gates are called rajavithi and those which flank them are the alleys,21 It is said that all these streets are called 'paved (streets)¹22 but the mangalavithi is said to be the 'street for the (temple) chariot'. The streets leading to the secondary gates are called nărăca; those going towards the north are called kṣudra, argala and vămana 23

39b The street which encircles a village is called mangalavithi and that which encircles a town, janavithi; both are designated as 'chariot streets (rathya) but, according to the ancients, this expression applies to all the other streets too,24

[Manish Jain]

[ वीथिविधानम् ]

सर्वेषां ग्रामाणां मङ्गलवीथ्यावृता” बहिस्त्वबहिः । ब्रह्मस्थानं ह्युदितं तस्मिन् देवालयं तु वा पीठम् ॥ ३५ ॥

एकद्वित्रिचतुर्भिः पञ्चभिरपि कार्मुकैश्च मार्गततिः । प्राक्प्रत्यग्गतमार्गा ऋतुदण्डमहापथाख्यास्ते ॥ ३६ ।। 50 मध्यमयुक्ता वीथी ब्रह्माख्या सैव नाभिः स्यात् । द्वारसमेता वीथी राजाख्या च द्विपार्श्वतः क्षुद्रा ।। ३७ ।। सर्वाः कुट्टिमकाख्या मङ्गलवीथी तथैव रथमार्गम्" । तिर्यग्द्वारसमेता नाराचपथा इति ख्याता ।। ३८ ।। उत्तरदिङ्मुखमार्गाः क्षुद्रार्गलवामनाख्यपथाः2। ग्रामावृता मङ्गलवीथिकाख्या पुरावृता या जनवीथिका स्यात् । तयोस्तु रथ्याभिहिताभिधा स्यात् ” पुरातनैरन्यतमेष्वथैवम् ॥ ३९ ३ ||

Streets

The street on the internal or external periphery of all villages is called mangalavitbi; a temple or an altar is installed at the centre which is called the place of Brahma.

The width of a street is one, two, three, four or five poles¹8 but those 18 which traverse (the village) from east to west are six poles (wide) and are called 'main streets. The street (which encircles) the middle of the village is called brahmavithi and is the 'navel' (of the village).20 The roads leading to the gates are called rajavithi and those which flank them are the alleys,21 It is said that all these streets are called 'paved (streets)¹22 but the mangalavithi is said to be the 'street for the (temple) chariot'. The streets leading to the secondary gates are called nărăca; those going towards the north are called kṣudra, argala and vămana 23

39b The street which encircles a village is called mangalavithi and that which encircles a town, janavithi; both are designated as 'chariot streets (rathya) but, according to the ancients, this expression applies to all the other streets too,24