INTRODUCTION

In The Indian Encyclopedia, architecture has been depicted as the rudimentary
art of India and almost all other forms of art have emerged as accessories to it. We
find similar tune in the article written by K.R. Pisharoti, who writes, ‘Architecture is
one of the most important forms in which the Indian culture has found expression
from ancient times.’ The New Encyclopedia Britannica explicates architecture along
with some other arts, the practice of architecture embraces both aesthetic and
utilitarian aspects. In this context Pisharoti says, ‘Architecture is primarily utilitarian,
both in conception and in practice, and at the same time it is expected to satisfy
aesthetic sense. A structure which has any pretence to architectural quality must
satisfy both these aspects of utility and of beauty.’
Architecture has a sprawling history in our country. We find references of
various architectural forms specially altars of multifarious shapes and sizes for
sacrifices in the Vedic literature.
Some of the major Purāṇas like Matsya, Agni, Garuḍa and others, expatiate and
explain various aspects of architecture. In the later period we find a number of
texts from different regions of India, which deal extensively with different forms of
architecture; religious as well as secular. To name a few they are Mānasāra, Mayamata,
Viśvakarmā Vāstuśāstra, Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra, Aparājitapṛcchā and so on.
The Vāstumaṇḍana, a treatise on architecture of medieval age, shows close
acquaintance with the vāstu works from Gujarat. Basically it is a compilation from
other vāstu texts, in some places it shows its inherent exclusivity.

MANUSCRIPTS OF THE VĀSTUMAṆḌANA

To prepare the critical text of the Vāstumaṇḍana, five manuscripts have been
consulted. These are collected from different parts of India.

Manusript A

The mother one (A) was collected from BORI. Pune. Its record no. is 123. It is
written in Devanāgarī script, and complete with 35 folios, each consisting of 12/
13 lines. The size of this manuscript is 9. 5/9 inches x 41/8 in. The material is
country made paper. The date is saṁvat 1675 i.e., 1618 A.D.
The manuscript has some peculiarities. The scribe writes ष्, and घ् in stead of
थ and ष instead of ख; such as मुष instead of मुख in Ch. 1 verse no 48, 51 and in