Abstract:
The planning of the door is key factor in vāstuśāstra. Generally the door is
established in order to bring the pure ventilation inside the building. Techniques
with reference to the door planning are expounded considerably in each Sanskrit
vāstuśāstra texts. Different types of techniques that are employed for door planning
even today in Sri Lanka are based on primary Sanskrit texts such as
viçvakarmaprakäça - västuratnävali - mayamata etc. But, many architects
who consult the house construction only have the conventional knowledge.
Architects who maintain the traditional adeptness cannot go through the primary
Sanskrit texts due to lack of acquaintance of Sanskrit. On the other hand, it is
apparent that the house construction in Sri Lanka has been critically revolutionized
due to the various invasions. Accordingly, in Sri Lanka it is not practiced the
perfect way of planning the door which has been bestrewed the enormous
dilemmas. Number, place and the directions are the central points of door
planning. It is to be considered particularly, the variables of païcabhüta & the
main four directions when the door is planned. It is believed that the door planning
facing to the western direction procreate bad effects. But, entirely that is devious
aspect in the track of the techniques in primary sources. The main door that can be
planned in each main direction has the foremost identity. Vital dimensions as
length and width in addition to the distinctive characteristics of the main door are
discussed in vāstuśāstra texts. In this paper attempt is taken to get to the bottom of
this problem on the basis of primary texts.
