106 - Västu relating to Cities

The Lord said: 

1. Ishall describe the västu (worship of the presiding deity) relating to a city for the prosperity of the kingdom. Land measuring eight miles or half of it or a quarter of itshould be set apart. 

2. After having worshipped the presiding deity of the city, enclosureshould be made ready in the thirty squares of lord Isha (Śiva) and others. The eastern gate (should be) on that of (lord) Sun. 

3. The southern (gate)should be (raised) on (the squares) of the gandharvas (semi divine beings) while the western one (should be raised) on that of (lord) Varuņa. The northern gate (should be) made on that of (lord) Soma. The low-roofed chambersshould be made extensive. 

4. The doorsshould be six (cubits wide) so that the elephants and other (animals) could easily pass through. A cityshould never be founded (on grounds) far away from one another, or ofshape of the crescent moon or hypotenuse (of the plot) broken. 

5. (A city of theshape) of the face of a vajrasuchi (diamond needle) or having two or three easy ways is not favourable. The frontage of a city resembling (theshape of) a bow or vajranäga is beneficiary. 

6. After having worshipped (the gods) Vishnu, Siva, Sun and others and bowing down, the founder (of a city)should make the offerings. The goldsmiths and blacksmithsshould be provided for at the south-eastern quarter of the city. 

7. The houses of professional dancers and courtesans (should be located) in the southern quarter. (The houses) of actors, potters and fishermen (should be located) in the south-western quarter. 

8. (Space)should be (set apart for) war-chariots, weapons and swords in the western quarter (of a city). Distillers of liquor and those engaged in the service (of the state) (should be located) in the north-western quarter. 

9. Brahmins, ascetics and holymen (should be provided for) in the northern quarter. Those who sell fruits and other articles and merchant community in generalshould be located in the north-eastern quarter. 

10. The commanders of army (should be given quarters) in the eastern quarter. Different regiments of the armyshould be provided) in the south-eastern quarter. The officers who attend upon the ladies (should have their residence) in the southern quarter. Royal campsshould be located in the south-western part. 

11. The chief ministers, treasurers and architects (should be located) in the western direction. Men of judiciary belonging to the clan of brahmins and eminent men (should be located) in the northern part. 

12. The military men (should be located) in the southern part, the tradesmen and šūdras (fourth class of men) in the wes tern part. The physicians (should be provided with quarters) in all directions and horses and armyshould be placed in all quarters. 

13. The movable class of lingas (should be placed) in the east and the cremation ground in the south. Cattle-sheds (should be located) in the western part and farmers in the northern part. 

14. Foreignersshould be located in the angular points. Thisshould be observed even in small villages. Those who see (the goddess) Lakshmi and Kubera at (each side of) the eastern gate-way (of the city) obtain prosperity. 

15. The temples of gods (should be established) in the western part facing the east. (The divine edificesshould) face towards the west and north respectively in the east and the south. 

16-17. The temples of gods Brahma, Isha (Śiva) and Vishņu (should be built in the city) for the protection of the city. A city, a village, a fortress or a house not having a (guardian) deity will be swallowed by the goblins etc. and becomes infected by diseases. The cities protected by deities confer victory, enjoyment and emancipation. 

18. The treasure-houseshould be in the east, the kitchen in the south-east, the bed-chamber in the south and the arsenal on the west. 

19. The dining (chamber) (should be) in the western part, the granary in the north-west, store-house in the north and the chamber for the deities in the north-east. 

20-23. The palaces may have four chambers or three or two or one. In the case of palaces having four chambers there are two hundred and fiftyfive subdivisions based on the terraces in front of the buildings, whereas those having three chambers (will have) four (sub-divisions) and those having two chambers (will have) five (sub-divisions) and those having one chamber (will have) four. The terracesshould number twentyeight both in a house and city or theyshould be four, seven, fiftyfive, six, twenty-eight or eight only.