Indian Architectural Theory and Practice: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya [Hardcover]

Vibhuti Chakrabarti (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0700711139 | ISBN-13: 978-0700711130 | Publication Date: February 5, 1999

In this ground-breaking study the traditional Indian science of architecture and house-building,Vastu Vidya, is explored in terms of its secular uses, at the levels of both theory and contemporary practice. Vastu Vidya is treated as constituting a coherent and complete architectural programme, still of great relevance today. Chakrabarti draws on an impressive amount of textual material, much of it only available in Sanskrit, and presents several extremely valuable illustrations in support of the theories expounded. Each chapter deals with one architectural aspect, and chapters are divided into three sections. For each aspect, the first section explains the prescriptions of the traditional texts; the second section deals with the rather arbitrary use of that aspect by contemporary Indian architects trained in the western manner but striving to relate to Indian roots; while the last section in each chapter explores the selected use of that particular aspect by contemporary Vastu pundits, with their disregard for architectural idiom.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (February 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700711139
• ISBN-13: 978-0700711130
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,927,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelectually rigorous, February 14, 2011

By 

Dr. Jessie J. Mercay (Boulder, CO, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indian Architectural Theory and Practice: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya (Hardcover)

This book is one of the few books on the topic of Vastu that shows an understanding of the complexity of the science. The author makes it clear that most of the books in the market place and most of the so-called vaastu consultants are a sham. The author states, without hesitation, that this is a complex and multilayered science that requires deep study with a person from an authentic Sthapatya Veda tradition. there are few true sthapati's living today. The author apraises the reader of the fact that modern vaastu experts have fractionalized the science by taking only the parts that suit them and their financial well being. This has resulted in thousands of misinformed people with the hopes of improving their lives through Vastu.

The author begins with a good outline of the overall procees that a Sthapati (Vaastu architect) goes through to build a proper vaastu compliant house. It becomes clear that Vaastu is concerned with building from the ground up, taking into account numerous complex factors, and has little to do with yantras, paint color or fixing bad vaastu.

I appreciate the authors' thorough review of the topic. No one should expect that they could build a proper vaastu house from reading a book. It takes proper study over time to assimilate and apply the principles put forth in Vaastu Shastras. Can an EMT medic perform brain surgery? NO. Can a layperson who has not studied over time under the guidance of an authentic Sthapati from a traditional Vishwakarman family build a proper vaastu home? NO. I have personally seen the catastrophic results of people attempting to build a vaastu house after taking a workshop from one of the many so called self professed vaastu experts - their life went into shambles. Do yourself a favor and don't try to fix your existing house and worse yet don't study with people who don't know what they are talking about. If the words, yantra, color, bells, chimes, moving furniture or any other object are in the vocabulary of the person you are seeking to study with run in the opposite direction. The fact is, right now there is only one living Shilpi Guru (person authorized to teach this knowledge) and he has designated very few people to teach under his name. Find him and his teachers.

The vaastu Shastras (traditional texts on Vaastu) are difficult to understand and interpret. A lay person cannot really understand the proper meaning without having already studied with a traditional Vaastu Architect. There are several misunderstanding positied in this text but over all it is well done. For example, the author, and many other authors, mention that the standard measure used in Vaastu building is the Angula. This is correct. However, the exact meaning of "Angula" is misinterpreted. An angula is 1 3/8 inches exactly. It is the traditional measure of the standard angula and evidence of that fact has been found even as far back as 7000 BC in the Indus Valley. There, in excavations, traditional measuring sticks have been found (called Hasta)amongst other building tools. The hastas found are 24 integers of 1 3/8 inches exactly. The measuring stick is 33 inches long. Anyone from an ancient tradition will use that measurement for building. It is the ancient and traditional measure used for thousnds and thousands of years. (there are other measurements byond the hasta but most are based on the 1 3/8 inch.

I am grateful for the work that the author accomplished to write this book. I applaud her.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Indian Architectural Theory and Practice: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya, February 21, 2010

By 

AR "AR" (KS) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Indian Architectural Theory and Practice: Contemporary Uses of Vastu Vidya (Hardcover)

This book is a waste of money and time. It cost me 150 dollars and it was the worst scam. The book is better off in the trash rather than on the bookshelf. The book is poorly written and has no useful information in planning a vastu house.