Vedic Principles for Urban Settlements (Towns) in Ancient India

Vedic Principles for Urban Settlements (Towns) in Ancient India

1.     Ar. Aniruddha R. Naik, Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Marathwada Institute of Technology, Aurangabad, M.S. India
2.     Dr. Uttam Kalawane, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Marathwada Institute of Technology, Aurangabad, M.S. India

Abstract

Harappa & Mohan De Jaro civilization (2500 BCE- approximately 4520 years back) gives evidence of thought on town planning in India. The town planning of these cities shows an alignment of roads, drainage system, distance in between two buildings, location of open spaces, location of community spaces, common bath, and its drain system, etc.1 Great epic of "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" in Hinduism also have details of town planning in ancient times. The Ramayana period is about 9344 (Dec 4, 7323 BCE) 2 years ago and The Mahabharata Period is about 7582 (16 Oct to 2 Nov 5561 BCE) 3. The time between both is 1762 years. The epics have depictions of cities like Ayodhya, Mathura, Mithila, Prayag, Chitrakut, Lanka, and much more. India has a rich cultural heritage along with art, architecture, and historical settlements. Due to rapid urbanization and increasing population demands of buildings are high and for that fulfilment of demands, town planning norms are very flexible. Vedic principles of Vastu Shastra are rarely followed in today's context. These Vedic or Vastu principles are more environmentally friendly and have more green architecture values.

The planning of Harappa and Mohan De Jaro is so perfect that it may take a thousand years for a development journey. Sindhu river bank is a perfect location to start a planned human settlement, as fertile land and abundant source of water required for agriculture and human need.4

Keywords

Urban settlements,  Vedic architecture,  Vastu Shastra, urban design, Towns,  ancient India, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Harappa, Mohan De Jaro.