Heritage Structure

1. THE SECRETS OF ENDURANCE OF
INDIAN HERITAGE STRUCTURES
A.S. Nene
Professor of Civil Engineering (Retd),
VNIT Nagpur,

2. UNESCO has declared till today 125
structures as World Heritage Structures .
16 heritage structures in India
maintained by ASI.

3. THREE SECRETS OF ENDURANCE
1. The Site selection
2. Construction materials
3. Construction techniques.
Proper selection of three things is essential for
durability of any heritage structure.

4. 1. Site
Importance of Site investigation was well
known to ancient India. In ancient days
availability of a good site was not a
problem.
Simple field tests on soils to determine their
suitability of a foundation are described.
All such tests are based on sound scientific
principles

5. Puranas have a separate chapter called site
selection (Deshnirnaya)
or Site Investigations (Bhumipariksha).
"First explore the site and then plan
for the structure".

6. A site was considered unsuitable for a
town or a building if the site is
•Situated near a cremating ground,
•Fissured, full of cracks, porous ,
•Full of ant hills,, hairs, bones, etc.

7. Mayasamhita describes a cone penetration
test similar to the modern test.
As per the ancient practice a wooden cone is driven
into ground by striking with a hammer. The
markings on the cone indicate the amount of
penetration. Smaller penetration indicates
denseness of the stratum.

8. The depths of foundations were between 1.5 m to 7
m depending upon the height or importance of the
proposed structure.
A simple thumb rule was to lay foundation
on rock or just at the water table.

9. 2. Construction materials
2.1 Stones
2.2 Bricks
2.3 Timber
2.4 Lime mortars
2.5 Paints and pigments

10. 2.1 Stones
Ancient Indian texts mention classification of stones
according to color, age, gender.
The stones with high compressive strength (male)
were used for columns and the stones with high
flexural strength (female) were used for beams.
Building stones were closely examined for defects
by applying herbal extracts to detect micro cracks
and cleavage planes.

11.  For very important monuments, stones were tested by
immersing them into boiling milk.
 There are religious traditions to apply protective
coatings (Vajralepa) to the idols after every 12 years.
 Polishes made of coconut are applied frequently to
impart shining of stone surfaces.
 Mud packs made out of Multani mitti and rose water are
applied to white marbles to remove stains due to air
pollution.

12. 2.2 Bricks
 Ancient Indian texts such as Rig Veda mention
Preparations of brick earth, molding and firing of bricks
 Excavations at Mohenjodaro, Harappa and Lothal clearly
indicate that the ancient bricks were far superior to modern
bricks.
 Special organic additives such as algae, extracts of tree
barks, decoctions of dry fruits, jute fibers etc., were used in
preparations of brick earths. These additives enhance the
quality of bricks (sharp edges, strength and distortion free
shape).

13. 2.3 Timber
Ancient text Mayamat mentions 84 species of suitable
trees for wood work in superstructures. Ancient texts
elaborately describe various aspects of timber, such as
tree selection, preservation, wood defects and wood
preservatives. One can find description of various types
of wood joints in such texts. Application of wood
polishes and oil based paints were essential parts of
wood constructions.

14. 2.4 Lime and lime preparations
Lime was extensively used as mortar for stone or brick
masonry.
Quick lime was prepared from lime stone, sea sheles,
mother of pearls etc. Quenching of lime was done using
coconut water, Herbal decoctions, etc.
Lime mortar was prepared at site, by grinding slaked
lime and sands of various sizes using lime grinding mill
operated by bulls.
Various natural polymers were added during grinding.

15. The natural polymers comprised of
eggshells, hairs of goats, animal blood,
decoctions of cereals (black gram) etc. Red
lime mortar was prepared from saline soils.
Plaster material was prepared by mixing lime
with brick or marble powder. Many
plasticizers such as ripe bananas or pulp of
ripe fruits were used.

16. 2.5 Colors and color pigments
Colors for walls were made out of natural
ingredients. Five basic colors, white, red, yellow,
green and black were prepared and then various
shades of different colors were used with
combinations of two or three colors.

17. Technical studies revealed that three kinds of
pigments were used by the ancient painters;
Minerals - red lead, vermilion, yellow ochre, gold
powder, Lapis lazuli, Azurite (blue), Malachite
(green), calcium sulphate, white lead, silver
powder, and zinc (white).

18. Vegetables -indigo blue and madder red
(derived from plants, considered suitable for
textiles and not for paintings).
Artificial - lamp black, verdigris green and
ivory black.

19. Most pigments were minerals available
locally: red ochre, vivid red, yellow ochre,
indigo blue, chalk white, terracotta and
green. Only Lapis lazuli was imported. Lamp-
black was the only non-mineral. Following
three ancient texts deal in details with colors
and pigments. Secrets of Ajanta and Ellora
paintings can be traced out from these texts.

20. 3. Construction techniques
There were no time and cost constraints
for the construction of heritage structures.
Indigenous techniques were used to
maintain the quality of construction.

21. 3.1 Compaction of foundation stratum:
Durability of the structure depends upon
proper compaction of foundation stratum.
Well graded materials (cobbles, gravels, sands
and clays) were used and properly compacted
by rammers of the size of elephant foot.

22. 3.2 Leveling of various layers: Very close quality
control on levels and verticality of surfaces, was
maintained. Special tools were developed to
check the levels and heights of various
components.

23. 3.3 Proper load distribution: Structural
loads were properly distributed with series
of columns and beams. Roofs were prepared
by proper interlocking of building elements
(stones or bricks).

25. (7th century A.D., 595-625 A.D.)
1. Brick temple at Sirpur M.P.

26. First discovered in 1872 by Lord Cunningham,
the Lakshmana temple .This brick temple and
represents the beginnings of temple
architecture in ancient India.
Sirpur is 78 kms away from Raipur city in
Chhatisgarh State . The temple is located near the
banks of the great river Mahanadi .
Hiuen-Tsang, seventh century Chinese Buddhist
pilgrim had also visited this place.

27. The magnificent temple is the east facing
and this brick temple stands on a high
massive platform accessible by steps in the
north and the south.
The exquisitely carved door frames depicts
figures of Vishnu along with his other
incarnations.

28. This temple is among the best examples of
brick temples of ancient India. A museum at
the site is maintained to preserve the
collected materials.

29. 2. Kalaram Rock temple

30. The city of Nasik has a unique distinction
of having three temples constructed as per
three different schools of architecture
 Naroshankar temple- Kashyap Samhita
 Sunder Narayan temple -Bhrugu
Samhita
 Kalaram temple-. Maya Samhita

31. The largest and simplest of the temples is
Kalaram Mandir, built in 1790.
70 feet high temple is made by complete black
stones, with four doors
The building stands in the middle of a walled
enclosure with 96 pillars
It took Rs. 23 lakhs and 2000 workers to build
the temple in 12 years.

32. Conclusions
It can be concluded that;
1. The secrets of endurance of Indian
heritage structure are proper selection of
site, construction materials and appropriate
construction technology.

33. 2. The ancient techniques may not be relevant
in present time. But one must appreciate the
ancient Indian wisdom.
3. More research on ancient techniques is
necessary to preserve such heritage structures.

34. References -Ancient
1. Varahsamhita- Brihatsamhita
2. Matsyapooran
3. Mayamat
4. Rig Veda
5. Samarangana Sutradhara
6. Vishnu-dharmottara Pooran

35. References -Modern
•Mishra, T.N. (1997),” Ancient Indian Bricks and Brick
Remains”, South Asia Books Columbia, NO 65205,
United States.
•Nene, A.S. (2012) “Building Materials & Construction
Techniques of ancient India”, E-Book,
www.Bookganga.com
•Nene, A.S. (2012),” Rock engineering in ancient India”
Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference,
December 15-17, 2011, Kochi (India)