Vaidyanatha Ganapati Sthapati (1927 – 5 September 2011) was a '' Sthapati'' (temple architect and builder) and head of the College of Architecture and Sculpture in the

Vastu Shastra ''Vastu shastra'' ( hi, वास्तु शास्त्र, ' – literally "science of architecture") is a traditional Indian system of architecture based on ancient texts that describe principles of design, layout, measurements, groun ...

tradition ascribed to the sage Mamuni Mayan.

Biography

Sthapati was born in 1927 to sculptor Vaidyanatha Sthapati and Velammal in Pillayarpatti, a village near

Karaikudi Karaikudi is a Greater municipality in Sivagangai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 21st largest urban agglomeration of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area commonly referred to as " Chettinad" and has ...

, Tamil Nadu, India. Sthapati attended Dr. Alagappa Chettiar College,

, and graduated with a degree in mathematics. After his graduation, he became a ''Sthapati'' at

Palani Murugan Temple Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple is third of the Six Abodes of Murugan (Aarupadai veedugal). It is located in the city of Palani earlier it was known as ''Thiruaavinankudi(''as mentioned in the old Sangam literature Thirumurugatrupadai) ...

Palani Palani ( or ''Palni'' as in British records, is a town and a taluk headquarters in Dindigul district of the western part of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located about south-east of Coimbatore and north-west of Madurai, from Kodaikan ...

, Tamil Nadu, India. He resigned this post after the death of his father, who had served as principal of the School of Architecture and Sculpture at

Mamallapuram Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, is a town in Chengalpattu district in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, best known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of 7th- and 8th-century Hindu Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. It is ...

from 1957 to 1960. He succeeded his father as the Principal of the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture, TN, India. From the 1980s, Sthapati campaigned to restore and elevate the status of traditional

Hindu architecture Hindu architecture is the traditional system of Indian architecture for structures such as temples, monasteries, statues, homes, market places, gardens and town planning as described in Hindu texts. The architectural guidelines survive in Sansk ...

in modern Indian society, by affiliating courses to the

University of Madras The University of Madras (informally known as Madras University) is a public state university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1857, it is one of the oldest and among the most prestigious universities in India, incorporated by an a ...

and offering degree courses, bringing about a revival of

. After retirement from government service, he established the Vaastu Vedic Trust and the Vaastu Vedic Research Foundation, aimed at research, development, and globalization of Vaastu Shastra. He was also the head of the professional guild named "V. Ganapati Sthapati & Associates." He also began a small University – American University of Mayonic Science and Technology to teach the authentic Vaastu Shastras. He appointed Dr. Jessie Mercay as Chancellor and professor.

Major works

Architecture and sculpture

Sthapati served as architect for several buildings and sculptures, including the following: *Sculpture of

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

poet and saint

Thiruvalluvar Thiruvalluvar (Tamil: திருவள்ளுவர்), commonly known as Valluvar, was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. He is best known as the author of the ''Tirukkuṟaḷ'', a collection of couplets on ethics, political and ...

— Thiruvalluvar Statue at the southern tip of India at

Kanyakumari Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland Ind ...

, TN, India (measuring 133 feet (40.5 m) in elevation and weighing 4000 tons). *Design and Construction of University buildings including the Administrative block and library for

Tamil University The Tamil University is a public state university located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It was established to provide higher research in the Tamil language. Location The university is situated in a campus of about , granted by the ...

Tanjore Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the ...

. *Design and Construction of

Valluvar Kottam Valluvar Kottam ( ta, வள்ளுவர் கோட்டம்) is a monument in Chennai, dedicated to the classical Tamil poet philosopher Valluvar. It is the city’s biggest Tamil cultural centre. Location Valluvar Kottam is located a ...

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

, TN, India. *Granite sculpture of the

Kannagi Kannagi ( ta, கண்ணகி) sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic '' Cilappatikaram''. Kannagi is described as the chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his unfa ...

—heroine of the Tamil epic Silappathikaram, erected in an Art Gallery in Poompuhar,

, TN, India. *The Rajagopuram of Sri Rama Temple and Sri Ganesh Shiva Durga Temple at

The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) is a Hindu temple complex in Lemont, Illinois, Lemont, Illinois. It was inaugurated and opened to the public in 1986. It includes a Rama temple and a temple dedicated to Ganesha, Shiva, and Durga. His ...

complex Lemont, Illinois, United States. *Sri Murugan Temple, Nadi-Fiji islands. *The San Marga

Iraivan Temple The San Marga Iraivan Temple is a Chola-style Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva located on the Kauai island in the state of Hawaii, USA. "Iraivan" means "He who is worshipped," and is one of the oldest words for God in the Tamil language. ...

, Kauai, Hawaii. * Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple – Maryland Projects in India and other countries.

As an author

Sthapati has authored a number of books on the science and technology of

and has conducted over 80 seminars. He formed a publishing house called Dakshinaa Publishing house to publish and market books related to Vastu Shastra and architecture. His critically acclaimed book, Building architecture of Sthapatya veda attracted the attention of Scholars, architects and engineers of India and abroad. * *''Building Architecture of Sthapatya Veda, Illustrations Volume II'' * *
''Shiva Vishnu Temple Complex: Concept and Design''
*
Quintessence Of Sthapatya Veda
' *
The Scientific Edific of Brihadeeswara Temple, Tanjore, Tamilnadu
' *
Who Created God?
' *
The Colossal Statue Of Ayyan Thiruvalluvar
' He has authored countless other books including ''Iconometry, Temples of Space Science: The Building Architecture of Sthapatya Veda'' and ''Commentary on Mayan's Aintiram''.

Awards

Sthapati has earned a number of titles and awards including and not limited to: *

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

(the third highest civilian award in India) in 2009. * Doctorate Degree conferred by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic University in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

– 1995 *

Honorary fellowship Honorary titles (professor, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as well as in m ...

by the

Indian Institute of Architects The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) is the national body of Architects in India with more than 1,24,000 members. It was established in 1917 with its headquarters in Mumbai, India. It is associated with the International Union of Architects ( ...

in 1993 * The National Award for Master Craftsmanship from the

President of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Mur ...

– 1973

Other awards

* Kalaignar Award (Murasoli Trust)Presented by Dr. Kalaignar in 29 January 2005 * Muttiah Chettiar Award * Kapilavanar Award – Thirukovilur

Gallery

Image:Tiruvalluvar statue LIC.jpg, 133-foot-tall sculpture (40.5 m.) of the Tamil poet and saint Thiruvalluvar Statue, in Kanyakumari, India. Image:Valluvar Kottam Edit1.JPG,

, designed and constructed by V. Ganapati Sthapati, in Chennai, India Image:Iraivan4.jpg, Artist's conception for

, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Image:Iraivan2.jpg, Detail of Iraivan Temple.

Bibliography

References

External links

Profile at vastuved.com