वास्तु मण्डन (मण्डन सूत्रधार - गृह, राजप्रासाद, दुर्ग एवं नगर-वास्तु सटीक)

xviii Vāstumaṇḍana
Stella Kramrisch in her book The Hindu Temple writes, ‘The yoni formula is but
one of the six formulae, of the āyādi-ṣaḍvarga, in which the remainder determines
the gain or loss which will accrue to the builder, and the nakṣatra (Ṛkṣa), the lunar
day (tithi ) and the solar day (vāra), on which it is good to build that particular
building. These formulae belong to astrology in general. These are applied to the
building as if it is a living entity whose destiny is to be determined. However it is
only the cumulative bad effect that makes any perimeter inauspicious even if the
Yoni formula is satisfied. (V.K.R. Menon, “Six Canons Of Indian Architecture”,
Bulletin of the Sri Rama Varma Research Institute, 1934, pp. 66-67 ). The formulae
are not canons. The yoni and the other five formulae are considered when no other
definite injunction is given where the temple of a specified divinity has to face, etc
(part VII). The power of the specific divinity and its appropriate orientation outweigh
the āyadi ṣaḍvarga.’ (Footnote, p. 34 ).
Though this is the opinion of Stella Kramrisch, yet almost all Vāstu texts discuss
āyādi ṣaḍvarga in details. The author of Vāstumaṇḍana was not only an ardent
proponent of this formula but also added on some more to it. These are candra,
rāśimaitrī, grahamaitrī, pañcatattva, vargaprīti, vimśopā, etc.
After astronomy and astrology the author expressed concern with the
surrounding environment of a house also. Plants and trees have significant relation
with Vāstu. Almost all Vāstu texts refer to different types of trees and their respective
utility in a habitation. The author of Vāstumaṇḍana is no exception. He carefully
chose the plants telling where to plant those. In the first chapter, he has enumerated
forty-five types of trees and plants, which were to be planted or not to be planted
near one's house, their suitability or unsuitability for a new construction. In addition
to this, the author suggested the determination of the shading time of a tree and
creeper recommending astute discards of those, which provide shades more than
three hours.
The fourth chapter recommends wood as the material for construction. At
first one must appraise the type and nature of the wood, circumvent specific places
from where one not to collect wood, selection of the places from where one should
derive woods or so. Condition of the wood must also be taken care of. Author
mentioned fifty-eight types of trees which are regarded auspicious for human
dwelling and forty types of trees which are most apposite – suitable for temples
but malicious for human dwellings.
Not only the types of trees are important, but their joinery is also equally
important too. Here in this book the author categorically mentioned the principles
of joinery, which established his peerless expertise in the craft of wooden structure.
Two similar parts of a tree should neither be joined together, nor the new and old
parts of a tree be joined. Pillars and Brahmasthānas will be free from any joint. Again
in the eighth chapter, while giving description of types of beds, he mentioned
twenty types of trees, which are best, suited for beds, seats and vehicles.