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The Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra is a manuscript of the 5th or 6th century CE that gives the basis on which
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
n
Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
are constructed. It contains detailed information concerning plans, structures and the auspicious placement of particular elements.


Description

The text of the ''Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra'' is in
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...
but written in Sinhala script. Words such as "navadada" for nine indicate that the text is in Sinhala as well. E. W. Marasinghe dates the manuscript to the 5th or 6th century CE at the latest. It focuses on Buddhist monasteries. While the translator believes that this text is exclusively Sri Lanken and Buddhist, the text is very similar to most other Vasthu vidya Shastras or what are also called Vaastu Shastras. In many instances the wording is exactly the same as the Mayamata, Manasara and Agastyas Vaastu Shastra which are three well known Vaastu Shastras. Vaastu Shastras are texts on building houses, forts, temples, churches, large and small houses, huts, horse barns, cattle sheds, and just about every other kind of built space. This particular text focuses on Buddhist temples yet its rules also apply to other buildings. Vaastu Shastras were used in ancient days to build mathematically precise and energetically vibrant buildings all over the world. While the exterior style may vary the fundamental form and principles of Vaastu Shastras were used as far back as King Solomon's temple.


Content

The elements of Sri Lankan monasteries may appear to be randomly placed because they differ in layout. The text gives 12 different ''arama'' layouts, with two alternatives for each, totalling 24 layouts in all. Each layout is contained within a grid. The layouts carry names like ''hastiarama'', and ''padmarama''. ''Pabbata Vihara'' monasteries followed the ''hastiarama'' model. There are different layouts for different settings depending on whether the monastery is in a town, village, royal park, near a river, by the sea, in the middle of a forest, by a highway and so on. There is provision for placing the entrances north, south, east, or west, but there were conditions for this. In each layout, not only the religious buildings, but also the assembly hall, flower pavilion, dancing hall, hospital, refectory and kitchen had specific positions which fitted into certain sequences. Monasteries therefore had a very "architectural layout". The various buildings were placed in relation to each other, though on different levels. There were specifications for nearly everything. The ''Manjusri'' text advised on site selection, discussed soil properties and gave procedures for
soil testing Soil test may refer to one or more of a wide variety of soil analysis conducted for one of several possible reasons. Possibly the most widely conducted soil tests are those done to estimate the plant-available concentrations of plant nutrients, i ...
. It suggested suitable trees for each monastic layout. It gave advice on the preparation and application of glues, pigments and pastes, and on the carving of elephants and horses, indicating the correct proportions of these animals. It even gave instructions on how to obtain measurements using the
plumb line A plumb bob, plumb bob level, or plummet, is a weight, usually with a pointed tip on the bottom, suspended from a string and used as a vertical reference line, or plumb-line. It is a precursor to the spirit level and used to establish a vertic ...
. There were
auspicious Auspicious is a Latin-derived word originally pertaining to the taking of 'auspices' by the augurs of ancient Rome. It may refer to: * Luck * Auspicious number in numerology * Eight auspicious symbols; see Ashtamangala * Auspicious wedding date ...
times, auspicious materials and auspicious lengths. There were rituals relating to certain important stages in the construction. The first brick was to be laid by the architect, suitably clothed, facing east. The doors should open inward for good results. If images were incorrectly placed, the patron's life and health would be affected.


References

* *{{cite book , last= Marasinghe , first=E. W. , date=1989 , title=The Vastuvidya Sastra ascribed to Manjusri (Sanskrit Text with English Translation) , publisher=Sri Satguru Publications , isbn=8170301998 Sri Lankan Buddhist texts