The Science of Sculpture and Architecture

original: "Shilpa Shastra"

(Meaning) A house with a southern orientation and a north-facing entrance is for the priestly class Brahmins. A house with a western orientation and an east-facing entrance is for the ruling class Kshatriyas. A house with a northern orientation and an east-facing entrance is for the merchant class Vaishyas. A house with an eastern orientation and a west-facing entrance is for the laboring class Shudras. Thus it is said.

Rules for the Residence of Oneself and One's Elders.

Verse

For one's own clan and those who are superior,
Within the dwelling of the master,
In the directions of South and West,
Place those of golden lineage and the rest upon the earth.

(Meaning) One should not reside in the South or West relative to those greater than oneself, such as teachers Gurus: spiritual preceptors, parents, relatives, or elders. It is best to place them in the South and West sections of the property. Thus it is said.

To the South, let the refuse heap shine,
In the Southwest, place the haystack,
Within the Western direction, build the buffalo stall,
In the celebrated Northwest, place the grain granary,
And in the North, construct the cow stall.

(Meaning) It is excellent to dump refuse to the South of the lived-in house, to stack haystacks in the Southwest corner, to build the buffalo stall in the West, to set up the grain storage Tompai: a traditional cylindrical granary in the Northwest, and to build the cow stall in the North. Thus it is said.

Further Characteristics for Constructing a Compound.

In the Northeast direction, establish the kitchen,
In the East, spread the stalls for the goats,
In the Southeast, storing wealth brings prosperity,
In the Southwest, place the heavy weights.

(Meaning) It is excellent to build the kitchen in the Northeast and the goat shed in the East. Storing valuables in the Southeast is auspicious. In the East-South Southeast, perform maidenly rituals; in the Fire corner Southeast, place the cooking area; in the South, the sleeping quarters; in the Southwest corner, the place for keeping all scientific treatises and books; in the West, the dining area; in the Wind corner Northwest, the cow stall; in the North, the storage for wealth and grain; and in the Northeast corner, the worship room. Doing so will result in "Royal Yoga" a state of great prosperity and success. Thus it is said.

Sanatkumara Vastu Rules for Commencing House Construction

If malefic planets stand in the Ascendant, the twelfth, or the second house,
Or if a malefic joins the crucial seventh house,
Commencing a house under these planetary positions
Will result in sorrow, poverty, theft, and even death.

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'Gaganai' refers to household vessels or pots.

The following is a list of technical terms found in the text.
Shilpa Shastra: The science of arts and crafts, specifically architecture.
Manai Ilakkanam: The grammar or rules of house-building.
Vasasthalam: Dwelling place.
Sanatkumara Vastu: Architectural rules attributed to the sage Sanatkumara.
Griharambam: The ceremony or timing of beginning house construction.
Adukkalai: Kitchen.
Pasuthozhuvam: Cow shed.
Thanadhanyam: Wealth and grain.