SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENTS in VASTU (मानोपकरणम्)
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Mayamatam मयमतम् by bruno dagens
Authentic book on ancient vastu sastra
CHAPTER-5 SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENTS

All dwellings are defined by their dimensions; I am going to present as well, methodically though in few words, the system of measurements.

The digit' is known to be a multiple of an atom; an atom is defined as that which can be perceived by the vision of those who have mastered their senses.

Eight atoms are equal to a speck of dust and, in multiplying each time by eight, we go from a speck of dust to the tip of a hair, then to a to a louse and finally to a barley grain. Eight barley grains make a digit which is called as well "measure". Twelve digits make a span' twice which is a cubit, called by the learned, as well, "forearm", twenty-five digits make a prajapatya, twenty-six a dbanurmuşti and twenty-seven a dhanurgraba."


For vehicles and seats the cubit (is used), for buildings the dhanurmuşti and for villages and so on the dhanurgraba; the (ordinary) cubit however may serve for any building; it is also called ratni, aratni, bhuja, babu and kara. Four cubits make a pole, also called yaşti; eight poles make a rope. 10 Villages are to be measured in poles as are pattana, towns, nigama, kheta, palaces... etc.; but houses are to be in cubits. The sages should employ the span for vehicles and seats, the digit for small (objects) and the barley grain for very small ones. Such is the system of measurements.

The måträngula is equal to the middle phalanx of the middle finger of the officiating priest; it is (to be used for measurements relating to) sacrifices... etc.;" that which has just been mentioned is also called "digit taken from the body". 

Knowing all this the architect must measure rigorously.

The Technicians

Here below, there are four sorts of builders each with their function: the architect, the sutragrābin, the vardhaki and the taksaka.
The architect is from a renowned land and he is of mixed caste; a man of quality, he must know how to establish buildings and must be well versed in all the sciences; he must be physically perfect,just, compassionate, disinterested, free from envy, without weakness, handsome, and learned in mathematics; he must know the ancient authors and must be straightforward and master of his senses: he must be able to draw and must know the whole country; he must be generous and not greedy; his health must be good, he must be attentive and free from the seven vices, possessor of a well chosen name and persevering: he must have crossed the ocean of the science of architecture.

The sutragrabin is the disciple or the son of the architect; he follows his directions. He is skilfull in all the arts; he knows how to make the rop and rod fly and how to measure length, height and proportions, 

The takşaka is so named because he cuts the stone, wood, bricks...

etc. into small or large pieces. ¹9 -22a Versed in masonry, 20 virtuous, capable and cognizant of his trade, he who assembles and correctly erects the pieces cut by the takşaka is the vardhaki; it is said that he always works under the order from the sutragrābin.

They are active, skilful, pure, strong, compassionate, always respectful towards the master and joyous; they are always faithful to the architect's instructions because, to them, it is Visvakarman is person who is revealed through his aspect, though without them he can do nothing; that is why the tetrad led by the architect must always be honoured.

Without these technicians led by the architect nothing beneficial can be embarked upon here below but with them as with a guru, mortal beings attain deliverance.

Original sanskrit text
पञ्चमोऽध्यायः मानोपकरणम् 

सर्वेषामपि वास्तूनां मानेनैव विनिश्चयः । तस्मान्मानोपकरणं वक्ष्ये संक्षेपतः क्रमात् ॥ १ ॥
परमाणुक्रमाद् वृद्धं मानाङ्गुलमिति स्मृतम्। परमाणुरिति प्रोक्तं योगिनां दृष्टिगोचरम् ॥ २ ॥
परमाणुभिरष्टाभी रथरेणु रुदाहृतः । रथरेणुश्च 'वालाग्रं' लिक्षायूकायवास्तथा ॥ ३ ॥
क्रमशोऽष्टगुणैः प्रोक्तो यवाष्टगुणितो॰ऽङ्गुलम् । अङ्गुलं तु भवेन्मात्रं वितस्तिर्द्वादशाङ्गुलम् ॥ ४॥
¨तद्वयं "हस्तमुद्दिष्टं तत् किष्किति मतं वरैः । पञ्चविंशतिमात्रं तु प्राजापत्यमिति स्मृतम् ॥ ५ ॥
षड्विंशतिर्धनुर्मुष्टिः सप्तविंशद्धनुर्ब्रहः । याने ''च शयने किष्कुः प्राजापत्यं विमानके ॥ ६ ॥
वास्तूनां तु धनुर्मुष्टिर्ग्रामादीनां धनुर्ग्रहः । सर्वेषामपि वास्तूनां किष्कुरे वाथवा मतः ॥ ७ ॥


रनिशैवमरलिश्च भुजो बाहुः कः स्मृतः ।

"हस्ताश्चतुर्धनुर्दण्डो यष्टिश्चैव प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ८ ॥ दण्डेनाष्टगुणा रज्जुर्दण्डैग्रामं च पत्तनम् ।

"नगर निगम "खेटं वेश्मादीन्यपि "मानयेत् ।। ९ ।। 20 गृहादीनां तु हस्तेन याने च शयने बुधैः ।

वितरितना विधातव्यं क्षुद्राणाममुलेन तु ।। १०

22 यवेनाल्पीयसां मानमेव मानक्रम विदुः ।

" मध्यमाङ्गलिमध्यस्थपर्वमात्रायतं तु यत् ।। ११ ।।

कर्तुर्मात्राङ्गलं प्रोक्तं यागादीनां प्रशस्यते ।

देहलव्याङ्गलं "यत्तदुपरिष्टाद् विधीयते ।। १२ ।। एवमेवं विदित्वा तु स्थपति” मनियेद् दृढम् ।

[ शिल्पिलक्षणम् ]

भवन्ति शिल्पिनो 27 लोके चतुर्धा स्वस्वकर्मभिः ॥ १३ ॥

2" स्थपतिः सूत्रग्राही च "वर्धकिस्तक्षकस्तथा । प्रसिद्धदेशसङ्कीर्णजातिजोऽभीष्टलक्षणः ॥ १४ ॥ न हीनाङ्गोऽतिरिक्ताङ्गो धार्मिकस्तु दयापरः ।। १५ ।।

स्थपतिः स्थापनाह: स्यात् सर्वशास्त्र "विशारदः ।

अमात्सर्योऽनसृयश्चा” तन्द्रितस्त्वभिजातवान् ।

गणितज्ञः पुराणज्ञः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ १६ ॥

"चित्रज्ञः सर्वदेशज्ञ" चान्त्रदश्चाप्यलुब्धकः । अरोगी "चाप्रमादी च " सप्तव्यसनवर्जितः ॥ १७ ।।

* सुनामा "दृढबुद्धिश्च वास्तुविद्याब्धिपारगः । स्थपतेस्तस्य शिष्यो वा सूत्रग्राही सुतोऽथवा ॥ १८ ॥

स्थपत्याज्ञानुसारी च सर्वकर्मविशारदः ।

सूत्रदण्ड प्रपातज्ञो मानोन्मानप्रमाणवित् ॥ १९ शैलदार्विष्टकादीनां सूत्रप्राहिवशानुगः" ।



तक्षणात् स्थूलसूक्ष्माणां तक्षकः स तु कीर्तितः ॥ २० ।।

मृत्कर्मज्ञो गुणी शक्तः सर्वकर्मस्वतन्तकः ।

“तक्षितानां तक्षकानामुपर्युपरि युक्तितः ॥ २१ ॥ वृद्धिकृद् “वर्धकिः प्रोक्तः सूत्रग्राह्यनुगः सदा ।

कर्मिणो निपुणाः शुद्धा बलवन्तो दयापराः ॥ २२ ॥

गुरुभक्ताः सदा हृष्टाः स्थपत्याज्ञानुगाः सदा ।

तेषामेव स्थपत्याख्यो विश्वकर्मेति *संस्मृतः ॥ २३ ॥

एभिर्विना हि सर्वेषां कर्म कर्तुं न शक्यते ।

4 तस्मादेतत् सदा पूज्यं स्थपत्यादिचतुष्टयम् ॥ २४ ॥ एभिः स्थपत्यादिभिरत्र लोके

विना “ग्रहीतुं सुकृतं न शक्यम् ।

तैरेव सार्धं गुरुणाऽथ तस्माद्

भजन्ति मोक्षं भवतस्तु मर्त्याः ॥ २५ ॥

इति मयमते मानोपकरं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

Manish Jain Luhadia 
B.Arch (hons.), M.Plan
Email: manish@frontdesk.co.in
Tel: +91 141 6693948
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