Mayamata-Vastu Shastra Houses

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The passage describes different types of houses according to the Mayamata-Vastu Shastra text, including their structure, dimensions, and appropriate uses.

There are six types of houses with 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 or ten main buildings. They can have one or several storeys and engaged structures.

The length is calculated as 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4 or 2 times the width. There are also other formulas involving multiplying the width by 3/4, 1/2, or doubling and adding 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 of the width.

Mayamata-Vastu Shastra

Houses
There are six types of houses with 1,2,3,4,7 or ten main buildings for gods
Brahmins and other classes
These main buildings are not to be placed on the square of Aja (i.e.,Brahma);
they have a front veranda and they are separate from each other or they form a
block.
Width of main buildings
One main building- widths range from 3-23 cubits and 4-24 cubits by successive
increments of two cubits
2-3 main buildings seven possible widths, from 7-19 cubits or 8-20 by successive
increments of two cubits
Length of main buildings
The length is one and a quarter, one and half, one and three quarters or twice
the breadth (otherwise its equal to double the width increased by a quarter half
or three quarters; or it is equal to three times the width.
There are 8 ways of calculating the length from the width. -----Appropriate for
Gods
Ordinary men the length must not be more than double the width; for the
Monasteries and hermitages length=to or >double the width----appropriate
In a house where all such inhabitants dwell together the length must be at least
equal to, or double the width
Height of main buildings
Five ways to calculate height from width
Santika mode-Height is equal to width
Paustika mode- equal to the width increased by a quarter
Jayada-the increase is by one half
Dhana- three quarters
Adbhuta-height is double the width.
Houses with a main building
Characteristics
Appropriate for gods, Brahmins and other classes, for the heterodox in
hermitages, for those who fight from elephants, horse or chariots, as well as for
officiants at sacrifices, oblations and other ceremonies of the kind; they are
suitable too for women who live by their charms.
Dandaka,maulika,svastika and catarmukha are the four types

They have 1 or several storeys; they have engaged structures etc. . . .


They are in Arpita or Anarpita mode and are arranged in the same way as
temples.
1. May have a gallery all around: in front, behind and on the sides
2. For men, as for gods and for the heterodox inhabitants of hermitages,
there should be a pavilion in front and a forepart behind and on the sides.
3. For gods the chamber is in the middle of the main building, for men it is at
the side.
4. In a house with one single main building this may be to the east, south,
west or north and is appropriate for all classes; it may be to the south or
west, however, only when it is for men.
5. If the two main Buildings of a langala house are to east and south or to
east and north, this will bring about the owners death; if good fortune is
desired they have to be placed to the south and to the west.
6. In a surpa (house, the three main buildings positioned) to the south, west
and north bring luck; to east, south and west they bring victory; surpa
houses without main buildings to the south and west are nothing but
mistakes.
7. Langala houses are suitable for courtesans and people of that ilk and
surpa houses for ugropajivin. In langala and surpa houses and in all those
with only one main building, a wall with a door must be disposed so as to
border them where there is no main building. Houses with two main
buildings have one join and those with three, two.
Type of Dandaka house
Type 1
The total width of the house makes up three parts and length four. The
width of the main building is two( thirds that of the house) and that of the
verandah in front one third.
The faade is broken stick shaped.
Type 2
total width- four parts, length-six parts, width of main building- 2 parts,
width of verandah-2 parts.
Door arrangement
Single building house
Length of main building is divided into nine parts. Then a point is marked
at 5 parts from right extremity and another at 3 parts from the left one.
The access door is placed between
In any case,in all these houses, the door must make up one part of the N
parts by which is measured the length of the main building
Type 3
Width of main building-3 parts, length- 6 parts, the verandah- 1 part of the
width of the house, main building is separated into two rooms by a median
partition wall( khabhitti) which is broken up by a vaulted
door( Kulyabhadvara)
The chamber(vasa) must be at the bottom of the axis( of the building) and
gynaecium(ranga) at its top.
Gynaecium comprises pillars inside, there is a 1 part wide gallery in front,
behind or at the sides.

Type 4
The gynaceum may also be in the centre between two chambers placed at
top and bottom of the axis; pillars are arranged according to circumstance.
Doors should not be placed on the axis ( of the building).

Type-5
Total width of house- 6 parts
Length-12 parts
Gallery width- 1 part
Width of main building- 2 parts of the verandah in front of it
Two lateral chambers-2 parts wide,
Length-3 parts.
Along the length of the main building; between them is gymnaeceum,
Gymnaeceum
Width -2 parts
Length 4 parts
Verandah
In houses with one,two, or three main buildings, the width of the verandah
must be a third,two fifths, three sevenths or four ninths the width

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