Vāstuvidyā of Garga; Review of the Manuscript Vṛddhagarga Saṁhitā from Nepal

Abstract

This paper brings to light for the first time, the existence of a hither to unknown Vāstuvidyā text by Garga, who is one among the eighteen ancient teachers of the subject of Vastuśāstra mentioned in the Matsyapurāṇa. Two manuscripts, one in Newari-Bujinmol script and the other in Devanāgarī, of Vṛddhagarga Vāstuvidyā are available in the National Archives of Nepal. The text in 34 chapters, comprising of more than nine hundred verses, as seen from the style, content, and inclusion of only nakṣatra, tithi, muhūrta for deciding auspiciousness of time, must have originated Before Common Era. The text claims to be on Vāstuvidya as expounded by Vṛddhgarga to his son Kroṣṭuki and other disciples. True to this claim, the text touches on several aspects of site selection, town planning, lay out of palace complex, elephant and horse stables and many other topics, with quantified suggestions for important dimensions. The architectural and construction practices described correspond to wood as the primary material. As of now, this text is the oldest available work in Sanskrit wholly devoted to Vāstuvidyā, covering almost all aspects of architectural engineering that was prevalent in ancient India around 500 BCE.