Abstract
The four knowledge texts of Hindu religion known as Vedas mainly include praises to God, daily rituals and other aspects such as Medicine, Architecture, food habits, personal duties etc. The paper enumerates the various codified principles of food intake during various seasons and daily rituals adopted by a Hindu in ancient Kerala. The author tries to find the importance of thermal balance of the human body that has been maintained through these codified living habits of a Hindu in Kerala which are based on the Vedas. The paper also inevitably looks into the thermal properties of building and architectural elements described in the Vastusastra which are practised in the traditional Hindu domestic buildings in Kerala state in South India. The paper concludes by stating that the food habits, rituals and building construction methods practised according to Hindu customs of Kerala closely link to the original Vedic texts. Most importantly these sustainable practices were found to suit the adaptability of humans with the climate pattern of coastal Kerala towards attaining thermal comfort.
Highlights
The state of Kerala is a strip of land in South-Western part of India with an area of 38,863 sq. km. extending across longitude 740 52’ and 77024’ E and latitude 80 17’ and 120 47’ N
Across the coastal Kerala, climate experienced is warm humid with the temperature ranging from 19.80 C to 36.70 C and the rainfall ranges from 1520 to 4075 mm
According to the Vastuvidya there are some advices on types of trees to be planted on every cardinal directions of the house such as Ficus Religiosa and Astonia Scholaris on the western side, Ficus Racemosa and Tamarindus Indica on the southern side, Mimusops Elengi and Ficus Bengalensis on the eastern side and Messua Nagasarium and Ficus Microcarpa on the northern side which are planted for prosperity [24]
Summary
The state of Kerala is a strip of land in South-Western part of India with an area of 38,863 sq. km. extending across longitude 740 52’ and 77024’ E and latitude 80 17’ and 120 47’ N. Numerous existing research show that in Kerala, the Hindu community has followed Vedic texts in various fields such as Medicine, Architecture, daily rituals etc. It is the inherited knowledge passed on through generations which came into practice by Hindu civilization. A few layouts of traditional domestic buildings of Hindus have been analysed in this paper with respect to the spatial, functional and religious aspects. The human comfort considerations associated with these dwellings are enlisted along with the details of food habits. When the aspects like personal duties, food habits, building materials, construction methods etc. Are compared with contents in the Vedas, its relevance in the living pattern of traditional Hindus is clearly observed When the aspects like personal duties, food habits, building materials, construction methods etc. are compared with contents in the Vedas, its relevance in the living pattern of traditional Hindus is clearly observed
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