A Study on the Establishment of the Main Door

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.