1. Vāstu and Śilpa-śāstras

Ancient Sanskrit texts are the main sources from which one can understand the vast knowledge that the ancient Indians had about art, architecture, science, medicine, philosophy and so on. The Ancient Indian culture conceived knowledge as one integrated whole and all branches of learning as complementary to one another. As a consequence of this concept, each branch of knowledge has its spiritual and secular aspects.

The Śilpasāstra is one such branch of knowledge. The term “Śilpa” in its more comprehensive connotation includes all practical arts and crafts involving creative fancy and dexterity of workmanship. In its confined and more commonly understood sense, Śilpasāstra includes Architecture (Vāstu kalā) and Sculpture (Mūrti kalā) as the main branches of expertise and painting and engraving as subsidiary to them.

The Sanskrit word “vāstu” is derived from the verb “vas” meaning a “dwelling” or “house” with a corresponding plot of land. The other definition of “vāstu”, also means the place of residence. The term śāstra may loosely be translated as “science or a doctrine”.

This science is also called Śilpaśāstra or “The science of artistic creation”. “Śilpa” is the key term that tradition has for art (lit. “skill”) and is derived from the verb root “śil” “to concentrate”. It includes all artistic creations first conceived by the mind and then executed by the hand.

While the secular aspect of the Vāstu part of the Śilpaśāstra deals with the construction of the abode of men–the houses and palaces and the layout of villages, towns and cities, its religious aspect deals with the construction of the abode of gods–this include the temples, halls of worship, the religious rituals involved in their construction and the construction of other structures associated with them. The Śilpa part of the Śilpaśāstra sets forth at length the dimensions, description and details of sculpting statues and images of gods, goddesses and saints, painting, carpentry, pottery and other such arts and crafts.