5 Elements Vastu – History of Ancient India

5 ELEMENTS VASTU OF LAND & BUILDING – HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA :

Q1 What is ‘Vastu’ ?

A1 ‘Vastu’ in sanskrit language of India is the science of architecture in ancient Indian texts.

Q2 What is ‘5 Elements Vastu’ ?

A2 ‘5 Elements Vastu’ is based on 10 directions, astronomy and 5 elements of nature.

Q3. Which are the 10 directions in ‘5 Elements Vastu’ ?

A3 10 directions are as follows :

1. East – West and North – South are main directions.
2. North east – South west, North west – South east are diagonal directions.
3. Zenith is up direction [ universe ] and Nadir is down direction [ earth ].

Q4 Which astronomy is in ‘5 Elements Vastu’ ?

A4 The astronomy w.r.t. latitudes and longitudes of equator, north and south hemispheres of world is as follows :

1. North hemisphere and equator and south hemisphere of world
2. Latitude and longitude of land in world
3. Sun movement w.r.t to latitude and longitude of land
4. Sun azimuth angle
5. Sun altitude angle
6. Sunrise to sunset time
7. Sun degrees
8. Sun shadows
9. Summer sun [ Uttarayan ]
10. Winter sun [ Dakshinayan ]
11. Spring equinox sun
12. Fall equinox sun
13. Moon movement w.r.t to latitude and longitude of land
14. Moon azimuth angle
15. Moon altitude angle
16. Moonrise to moonset time
17. Moon degrees
18. Summer moon
19. Winter moon
20. Spring equinox moon
21. Fall equinox moon
22. Moon phases – new moon to full moon
23. Moon phases – full moon to new moon
24. Polar star [ Dhruv star ]
25. Polarity
26. Directions

Q5 Which are the 5 elements of nature in ‘5 Elements Vastu’ ?

A5 5 elements of nature are sky, air, fire, water, earth.

Q6 Where was ‘5 Elements Vastu’ taught in India ?

A6 ‘5 Elements Vastu’ :

1. It was taught in ancient universities [mahaviharas] of India.
2. It is based on 10 directions, astronomy and 5 elements of nature that is sky, air, fire, water, earth.

Q7 Are ancient universities of India still existing today ?

A7 No, ancient universities of India were destructed by foreign invaders from time to time in past centuries.

Q8 How knowledge of Vastu was preserved in past ?
A8 In past,

1. The knowledge of Vastu was given by teacher to student verbally in ancient times.
2. Thereafter it was preserved in ancient Indian texts written in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Maghadhi language, in various libraries of ancient India.

Q9 Which subjects were taught in ancient universities [ mahaviharas ] of India ?

A9  The subjects taught in ancient universities of India were as follows :

1. Vastu shashtra [ science of architecture and engineering of buildings and towns ]
2. Shilpp shashtra [ science of architecture and engineering of temples ]
3. Khagol shashtra [ astronomical science ]
4. Jyotish shashtra [ astrological science ]
5. Ayurvedic shashtra [ medical science ]
6. Dharma shashtra [ religion science ]
7. Panini vyakrana shashtra [ sanskrit grammar ]
8. Yuddha shashtra [ war and weapon skills ]
9. Nyaya shashtra [ law and acts ]
10. Artha shashtra [ political and welfare ]
11. Niti shashtra [ ethical and moral policies ]
12. Tark shashtra [ logic ]
13. Vanijyay shashtra [ trade and commerce ]
14. Sahitya and kala shashtra [ literature and arts ]
15. Tantra shashtra [ mysteric traditional science ]
16. Krishi shashtra [ agriculture ]

Q10 Name few texts of ancient India related to ‘5 Elements Vastu’ ?

A10 Few texts of ancient India related to ‘5 Elements Vastu’ are as follows :

1. Suryasiddhanta
2. Mayamatam
3. Mansar
4. Vastusar
5. Brihatsamhita
6. Samrangansutradhar
7. Rajvallabh Shilppashashtra
8. Vastushashtra
9. Vastu Mandan
10. Vastu Manjari
11. Manushyalay Chandrika

Q11 Give general information of ancient universities [ mahaviharas ] of India ?

A11 The general information of ancient universities [ mahaviharas ] of India is as follows :

1. Period : From 16^th century [ BCE ] upto 12^th century [ CE ].
2. Land area : 25 acres to 250 acres
3. Capacity : 10000 students and above.
4. Students : India, China, Tibet, Persia, Korea, Babylon, Syria, Indonesia, Central Asia, Greece
5. Admission age : Minimum 12 years and above
6. Course duration : 5 years to 25 years courses
7. Entrance exam : Yes
8. Result : 20% to 30% passing result.
9. Fees : Free of cost for scholars, teachers, saints and poor students.
10. Donations : Kings, merchants, students [ voluntary gurudakshina ].
11. Religion : Vedic, Hinduism [ Sanatan ], Buddhism, Jainism.

Q12 Give few names of ancient universities of India ?

A12 Takshashila university, Nalanda university, Jagadalla university, Sompura university and many others.

Q13 Give some information of Takshashila university ?

A13 The information of Takshashila university is as follows :

1. It has status of UNESCO world heritage site.
2. It had fame of being a 1^st university in whole world.
3. It was located in geographical area of Sindh and Punjab of ancient India which is presently located in Pakistan.
4. It was built before 15^th century [ BCE ].
5. It was destructed in 5^th century [ CE ] by Turkish invaders called Huns.
6. Chanakya wrote Arthashashtra which was taught here.
7. Charak wrote Ayurvedic shashtra which was taught here.
8. Panini wrote Sanskrit vyakaran shashtra which was taught here.
9. All religions and 18 arts were taught here.
10. Indians as well as foreign students from countries such as China, Tibet, Persia, Korea, Babylon, Syria, Indonesia, Greece studied here.
11. Architecture, engineering, city planning and construction techniques based on Vastu and Astronomy were taught here.

Q14 Give some information of Nalanda university ?

A14 The information of Nalanda university is as follows :

1. It has status of UNESCO world heritage site.
2. It had fame of having a largest library in whole world.
3. It is located in Rajgriha region near Patna city in Bihar state in India.
4. It was built in 10^th century [ BCE ].
5. It was destructed in 12^th century [ CE ] by Turkish invader named Bakhtyar Khilji.
6. It had 9 storey buildings, Temples, lakes, green parks and parking.
7. It was burnt by invader Bakhtyar Khilji and it kept burning for 3 months.
8. All religions and 18 arts were taught here.
9. Indians as well as foreign students from countries such as China, Tibet, Persia, Korea, Babylon, Syria, Indonesia, Greece studied here.
10. Architecture, engineering, city planning and construction techniques based on Vastu and Astronomy were taught here.

Q15 Give some information of Jagadalla university ?

A15 The information of Jagadalla university is as follows :

1. It has status of UNESCO world heritage site.
2. It had fame of composition of ancient texts ‘Kanjur and Tanjur’ of South India.
3. It was located in geographical area of Varendra region of Bengal of ancient India.
4. It is presently located in North Bengal region in Bangladesh country.
5. It was built in 8^th century [ CE ].
6. It was destructed in 12^th century [ CE ] by Turkish invaders.
7. Architecture, engineering, city planning and construction techniques based on Vastu and Astronomy were taught here.

Q16 Give some information of Somapura university ?

A16 The information of Somapura university is as follows :

1. It has status of UNESCO world heritage site.
2. It had fame of teaching Temple architecture of Hinduism [ Sanatan dharma ], Buddhism, Jainism.
3. It was located in geographical area of Bengal region of ancient India.
4. It is presently located at Paharpur in Nagaon district in Bangladesh country.
5. It was built in 5^th century [ CE ].
6. It was destructed in 12^th century [ CE ] by Turkish invaders.
7. In 5^th century [ CE ], special subjects of Jainism were taught with inspiration of Jain Acharya Guhanandi.

Q17 Was there any astronomical observatory built for architecture and engineering designs based on ancient science of Astronomy and Vastu ?

A17 Yes,

1. There were 5 architectural astronomical observatories built in five cities of ancient India which are known as ‘Jantar Mantar’ in each city.
2. They are existing till today in Jaipur city, Delhi city, Varanasi city, Ujjain city and Mathura city.

Q18 Give information of ‘Jantar Mantar’, an architectural astronomical observatory ?

A18 The information of ‘Jantar Mantar’, an architectural astronomical observatory is as follows :

1. His highness maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed largest architectural astronomical observatory in world.
2. It is called as ‘Jantar Mantar’ at Jaipur built in 18^th Century [ CE ] [ 1724 – 1730 ].
3. It has status of UNESCO world heritage site.
4. The instruments are constructed in stone masonry and lime mortar on open land to measure sun effects.
5. It helps to measure time, angles, shadows and movement of sun for designing buildings, public structures, towns, cities, roads and gardens.
6. Time based instruments are equivalent to different clocks registering local times in different parts of world.
7. The data measured at these ancient observatories matches with data of modern observatories.

Q19 Are Astronomy and Vastu of land and building based on hemispheres of planet earth ?

A19 Yes,

1. ‘Jantar Mantar’ is an architectural astronomical observatory which has 19 huge instruments called as ‘Yantras’.
2. Yantras are for northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere and equator.

Q20 Are Astronomy and Vastu of land and building based on latitudes and longitudes of hemispheres ?

A20 Yes,

1. Prior constructing ‘Jantar Mantar’ observatory at Jaipur, maharaja Jai Singh II built other 4 architectural astronomical observatories.
2. They are located at Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura in 18^th century.
3. The object was to study different effects of astronomy and Vastu at different latitudes and longitudes for planning and designing.

Q21 Are Astronomy and Vastu of land and building based on time zones as per latitudes and longitudes ?

A21 Yes,

1. In present world, time zones are based on 0˚ longitude prime meridian at Greenwich in UK.
2. In past, time zones were based on 0˚ longitude prime meridian at Ujjain city in India.
3. Hence observatory was built in Ujjain. Greek astronomers and many other astronomers also referred 0˚ longitude at Ujjain city in India.

Q22 What was the object of ‘Jantar Mantar’, an architectural astronomical observatory ?

A22 The object of constructing 5 architectural astronomical observatories in India was as follows :

1. They wanted to educate sthapati in Sanskrit, Prakrit and local language.
2. Sthapati are presently known as architects, engineers and chief consultants.
3. They were taught subjects of Astronomy and Vastu based on sun, moon, stars and five elements of nature.
4. It was useful for planning, designing and construction of buildings and cities.

Q23 Is Vastu same for northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere and equator in whole world ?

A23 No, Vastu is different for northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere and equator.