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

xxviii Vāstumaṇḍana
Doors should not be bent, projected outside, too low or too high or curved
inwardly.
Proper material is to be used for a door so that it becomes strong, elegant and
fixed properly.
Door primarily protects the owner from external peril, and keeping this in
mind a builder will erect the door in prescribed location making it as strong as
possible.
Gavākṣa – For a house, temple, palace and so on, proper ventilation is the
fundamental requirement. Being the Vāstu text of the Rajasthan belt, gavākṣas known
as windows, are speciality of Rajasthan and Gujarat architecture. Due to the hot
and dry climatic condition, this type of window is different from those in other
parts of India. Latticed window gives proper ventilation and at the same time
functions as a buffer protecting one from heat, dust and cold. They may be of five
types according to the different types of lumvika and we find mention of another
five types according to the number of chhādyas.
Alinda – Alinda plays an instrumental role in designing of a house. Here the
design of a house is created with the help of a device known as prastara, which is a
combination of guru and laghu, i.e., wall and alinda. Placing alindas in the proper
place and right direction is very crucial for a palace or a house. For a normal house
there must be at least two, three or four alindas. According to this book, wall and
alindas are to be juxtaposed side by side, and the author is very much particular
about proper placing of the alinda. Here he writes that one can design myriad
number of houses by placing those two items in different pattern.
In the glossary-index of Mayamatam, alinda is described as aisle, gallery, portico,
and verandah, etc.
Robert Chitham in the book, The Classical Orders of Architecture, writes, ‘portico
is the columned logjam in front of the entrance to a temple or other building,
frequently surmounted by a pediment.’
Transport – In the eighth chapter we find scanty description of palanquin,
and its measurement, which seems to be very small in size.
Other household materials – In the eighth chapter of this book we find
description and measurement of umbrella or pedestal for worshipping as well as
for bed-stead. All of these are described precisely.
The author is specific about the measurement of the bed. According to him,
bed is to be made according to one’s own height and special woods are to be used.
Quality of woods should not be mingled with one another.