Use of Vastu Purush Mandala in Architectural Education

Abstract

This paper is based upon the study of linkages between the traditional design knowledge concepts and the current Architectural education system in India. Especially the Vastu Purush Mandala, which is more relevant for today's architectural education. Vastu Purush Mandala will fill up the missing gap of theoretical components in contemporary architectural pedagogy. The importance of these ancestral architectural design principles and practices of architectural design has been neglected by current education systems. All the architectural principles and philosophy of architecture are explained in detail in various ancient Vedic treatises on Vastu Shastra. Linkages between various analytical indicators between classical architectural principles and current architectural principles are necessary. The conventional way of studying architectural design is easier as it is linked with nature, cosmos, astrology, and spiritual life. The current architectural education system will be easy to understand with the help of traditional systems or principles. These long-established architectural principles do not depend upon any mechanical part for its material and strength testing. Soil testing is a good example of it, in the Vedic age architectural study the strength of soil is tested by smell, taste, and look. Sthapati (Architect) fills a small pit with water on-site and as per the ratio of time and percolation of water; he identifies the strength of soil and suggests the load-bearing capacity of the soil. This paper does not say that contemporary methods for testing are not necessary but ancestral methods are easier and have quick results to start the design and construction. There are other criteria also for small buildings and multi-storeyed buildings and its various formulas give quick results for planning. The most important part of the Vedic architectural system is the Vastu Purush Mandala, in which all the day-to-day activity and its related spaces are given in a coded chart of squares. The Vastu Purush Mandala is a beautiful combination of climate, cosmos, spiritual life, and astrology. That's why the Vastu Purush Mandala has multi-dimensional qualities and is the most important tool for philosophy and practical use in current architectural education. Vastu Purush Mandala is a readily applicable tool for the architectural education system and will help literate newcomers in the architectural field as Mandala is a symbolic representation of their day-to-day life. An interesting thing is that when any person comes to plan a house or building he remembers the architect to use Vastu Shastra principles in his building. Common man's demand for the use of ancestral