History stands witness that when the western countries and people were living in the darkness of ignorance and took shelter under the trees and caves for their dwellings, Eastern countries specially India, enjoyed the sunshine of knowledge and great achievements in all fields of sciences and technology and lived in well developed large townships and built beautiful dwelling places for themselves like palaces, and huge temples. Their original source of knowledge then was nothing but Veda. We would like to mention a few Vedic hymns, throwing light on different aspects of Architectural science.
(Atharva Veda VI-106-2)
Written in English language it reads “Apaam idam nyayanam samudrasya niveshanam madhye hradasya no grihah paracheena mukhaa kridhi”
Through this hymn, Veda advises to develop towns on the shores of rivers, coasts of sea and even midway of great lakes. Based on this advice most of the big cities in the past were developed on Indian rivers like Ayodhaya on river saryoo, Paataleeputra (Patna) Prayaaga, Vaaranasi, Hugali (Calcutta) on Ganges, and Delhi on Yamuna. On the shores of sea like Bombay, Madras, Karachi, Cochin and so on. This helped transportation also.
The other feature of the advice in planning a town was, to develop towns length-wise, like along the rivers and coasts of sea and to have less width for better hygienic conditions and to avoid congestion. Ayodhyaa, for example, was 12 yojans (a yojan equal to say 4 miles) long and width only of 4 yojans and divided by 3 very wide main highways.
This is mentioned in Ramayana (Baalakanda V-7). Thus:-
Written in English language it reads “Aayaataa dashashcha dve cha yojanaani mahaapuri, Treeni visteeraa suvibhaktaa mahaa pathah”
Again, Paataleeputra (Patna) also was developed along the shores of Gangaa. Its length and breadth is in the ratio of 6:1. In still earlier times King Taxa, built a town known after his own name Taxashilaa, (near Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan). This town had been excavated and was a seat of great technology.
In describing the town planning of Ayodhyaa, it is mentioned:-
Written in English language it reads “Vimaanam iva siddhaanaam*…….”
That is, “the town was as balancely planned, as an aeroplane is made to balance itself” on both sides. As describing various buildings in Ayodhyaa, it is mentioned:-
Written in English language it reads “Vimaana gha “shobhitaam**”
Which means the town contained Vimaana grahas. This word “Vimaana grahas” would mean either houses, where airplanes were parked, as hangers or such all sky-scrapers, from where one gets a view as if one is viewing from an airplane.
Again, there stands here a ‘temple of thousand pillars’, which was erected many centuries ago by the architects of that time. The size, the length, the thickness of each pillar was so designed and cut that when struck, each pillar generated a certain pitch of sound, and each functioned like the key of a piano. At each pillar, a person was posted to strike on the pillar, when music was played. To generate the required note and pitch, the person would strike the desired pillar at the required time and make the music play on. Each pillar and the person functioned, as a key of the piano. So perfectly and precisely it worked out that the pillars generated the required, pleasant melody. This again shows their advanced skill and knowledge in sciences and acoustics.
There had been many great artists and architects in ancient India like Maya, vishvakarma, Bhowman, Visha Vrata, Tva??raa, mentioned in Mahaabhaarata and in Agni, Garuda, Matsya Pur??as, and in Mayakata, Maanasaara, Kautilya’s Artha Shaastra, Vaastu Talva etc. etc. Maya constructed an elegant place for Paandavas, such that even the paintings on walls and floors caused great illusions to the viewer. A pond in the hall, for example, gave an expression of a beautiful continuous marble floor and the painting on a wall in place of a complete wall looked like an open door and would make a bump on the head of a passer who would like to pass through the door and so on. Maya built a great township in South America and that town has been excavated with all its marvels.
Atharva Veda has a full (sookta) section (IX-3-1) and (VII-60th) on various types of buildings and their constructions and protections. ?g Veda’s sookta (VII-55) describes the qualities of an architect. It advises that before a building or a house is built, one must consult an experienced architect and he should be informed of all the needs by the owner and what his requirements were and so on. The sookta of Atharva Veda (IX-3-1) opens thus:-
Written in English language it reads “Upamitaam pratimitaam atho, parimitaam uta, Shaalaayaa vishwavaaraayaa naddhaani vichrtaam asi”
The hymn advises the architect to visit the site to review (parimitaam) the various other close and surrounding buildings in all detailed, measurements like height, position, width of the buildings, (pratimitaam) to examine how to keep symmetry with other buildings or how to do detailed calculations and designs of (shaalaaya) the building (vishwa vaaraaya) so that it is thoroughly well protected all round and (naddhaani) have all its blocks and joints (vich?taam asi*) strongly bound and connected together.
By 10th hymn it advises:-
(Atharva Veda IX-3-10)
Written in English language it reads “Yasyaaste vichtaam asya angam angam paroosparooh”
It states, that the building should be constructed such that, brick by brick and block by block it is thoroughly joined and connected. Veda describes that you may construct many blocked buildings of required sizes and heights. It mentions:
(Atharva Veda IX-3-21)
Written in English language it reads “Yaa dvi pakaa chatus paksaa sat pakaa yaa nimeeyate, Ataa pakaam dasha pakaam, shaalaam maanasya patneem, agnir garbha ivaa shaye”
(Nimeeyate) make proper measurement and calculations for your (dvi, chatus, ?ta, a??a dasha pak?aa) two, four, six, eight and ten blocked buildings and see these (patneem) are well protected and preserved by (maanasya) well calculated measurements and dimensions. They may be provided with (agnigarbha iva) centrally located heat and light arrangements for (aashaye) comfortable livings.
These mention not only of many blocked buildings but also high rise multi-storeyed buildings have been named Vimaana, because the view they gave from the top, was the same as if one sees when sitting in an aeroplane. Depending on their heights they gave different names :- (Meru (mountain) mandara (temple) gagan (sky) antarik?a (high sky) (dyumani) luminous jewels etc. etc.
These high rise buildings are to be constructed and supported on:-
(Atharva Veda IX-3-17)
Written in English language it reads asi hastineeva“mitaa pthivyaam tih padvatee”
*Vichta is from root “ch?tee hinsaa granthyoh” in the meaning of powerful binding act. (DhatuPath Taudadiga?)
It means :- They are to be erected and supported on pillars or piles, sunk deep in the ground, strong and stout like (hasti iva padvatee) the feet and legs of a strong elephant.
Again, in planning even a house, Veda gives details:-
(Atharva Veda VI-106-1)
Written in English language it reads “Aayane te paraayane doorvaa rohantu puspineeh, utso vaa tatra jaayataam hado vaa pundareekavaan”
Plan the house such that in (aayane) front and (Paraaya?e) in the back courtyards (pu?pi?ee doorvaa) beautiful flowers and (doorvaa) plants are (rohantu) grown. Arrange (utsa) high rising water supplying system and fountains if possible; also provide (h?da) ponds (areekawaan?pu?d) full of lotus flowers of white hue. Veda also advises to get these entire high rises, great buildings, well planned by highly qualified architects and gets constructed by experienced and clever engineers and workers.
It states:-
(Atharva Veda IX-3-19)
Written in English language it reads “Brahmaaa shaalaam nimitaam kavibhir nimitaam mitaam Indraagnee rakataam shaalaam amrto saumyam sadah”
It advises:-
(Nimitaam) get these great buildings well designed, planned and estimated by (brahma?aa) extremely learned and experienced architects, (nimitaam) and get constructed by (kavibhir) very wise, trained experienced engineers and technicians. In the case of these tall and great buildings, Veda advises that (rak?ataam) they should be protected from (indraagni) atmospheric electricity like lightening to make (shaalaam) such buildings (am?ta) safe, and harmless (sada) to live in and make them comfortable from inside.
Again, it is mentioned in the same sookta:-
(Atharva Veda IX-3-22)
Written in English language it reads “Prateecheem tvaa prateecheenah shaale praimya hinsateem,Agnirhya antar aapash cha tasya prathamaa dvaah”
It means:- (praimi) acquire (shaala) the building (ahinsateem) which is safe and comfortable and which has (prateecheenah) an internal and external (?tasya) provision for circulation of (dvaa) both (prathamaa) essential systems of (agnih aapash cha) heat and water.
Veda further enlightens man that the house should have:-
(Atharva Veda IX-3-7)
Written in English language it reads “Havirdhaanam, agnishaalam, patneenaam sadanam sadah,sado devaanaam, asi devi shaale”
(shaale) the house (asi) should have (havirdhaana) stores where all necessary things of need, like food grains, other things of utilities are stored (agnirdhaanam), fire place for cooking etc. (patneenaam sada) private rooms for ladies, boudoir, (devaanaam sada) and apartment for respectable and noble people to be seated, a sort of sitting or drawing room for people to meet.
In this sookta and at many other places in Atharva and ?g Veda, store of knowledge on (sthaapatya) architecture is available.
One would see from the above the great depth of knowledge about planning of cities. The linear developments along the water bodies did not only make water accessibility and distribution easy but the entire environment of the city would be very pleasant and eco friendly. Furthermore the moot point to be noticed is that because the city is on the shores of water bodies itself per force, the water bodies and rivers had to be kept clean in all aspects.
It should be also noted one of the biggest advantage of towns, cities developed around the water bodies. It gaves to the population, especially the youth to be involved in water sports and also learn about marine life and the great magical world of life below the water.
Unfortunately, in India there is no serious effort is really cleaning up the rivers and other water bodies around which there are certain cities which already exist.
In an effort showcase this we have prepared a design which is a very unique concept for the iconic Banaras Ghats, where you want to bring out Ghats in pristine its glory which would give a very ethereal look and which will enchant the visitor. This project also gives ideas how one would completely clean the river fronts of the Ghats by introduction of most sophisticated environment and technologies. We have send this proposal to the Prime Minister and hope to hear from him.
Time has come when all technologists, Architects, Planners, Psychologists, Sociologists should come together (Vichar Manthan) to start a serious in depth study of the Vedic wisdom and help the government to achieve clean, efficient, progressive and eco-friendly citites and habitats.
This would obviously include today’s ideas of Smart Cities.
