mud and lime plasters of ancient Inda

1. Mud Architecture
Past -Present and Future
By
Dr. A.S. Nene
prof.ashok.nene@gmail.com
Webinar 14 May 2021@ 4:30 p.m.

2. 1.Explanations specific terms
2.Extent of Shilpa Shastra
3.Scope of Vastu Shastra
4.Construction Materials-
5.Soil and lime
6.Conclusions
7.References
Main Topics of the lecture

3. Shilpa Shastra terminology
 Shilpa - The Sanskrit word has a very wide meaning,
other than sculpture or idol. Shilpa includes many
articles (things), machines, innovations, metals, and
artificial means. Shilpa -The word Shilpa is derived from
words Sheel samadhou which mean anything that please
the mind. Sage Bhrugu has given a definition of Shilpa.

4.  Shilpa shashtra - science which deals with
creation of a Shilpa is termed as Shilpashashtra.
 Shilpa samhita means compilation of rules and
procedures related to a particular Shilpa. The
exact period in which Shilpa-Samhitas i.e.
compilations were made is not known.

5.  Vidya- Vidya means a particular technique. One must
have both theoretical and practical knowledge of that
subject. There are thirty-two Vidyas related to
Shilpashashtra.
 Kala - Kala means an art which can be acquired by
practice and observation. Even a handicapped person
can be expert in a particular art without any
theoretical knowledge. There are sixty-four Kalas
related to Shilpashashtra.

6. Eighteen Devine Engineers

7. Sthapati is an Engineer or Architect in charge of
construction. Samarangana Sutradhara of Raja Bhoj,
describes characteristics a "Sthapati"
The Sthapati should be well-versed in the science,
should have the insight and the skill accompanied with
procedure.
an expert in workmanship who knows how to sketch the
ground plan, draftsmanship, the horizontal and vertical
measurements, the details of ground work of the plot.

8. Construction workers
Text 1 2 3 4 5
Kashyapa Shilpadnya Devadnya Vidhidnya Paur Nrukar
Bhrugu Sutradhar Ganitadnya Purandnya Karu Karmakrut
Maya Sthapati Sutragrahi Takshyak Vardhaki Karmi
English Engineer Assistant Mason Artisan Laborer

9. 1. The chief engineer should know all Shilpa Shastras
2. Engineering assistant should know minimum one
Shastra.
3. Mason should know minimum one technique.
4. Artisan should have minimum one skill.
5. Laborer- illiterate and does not possess any
construction tool. Good physique is only necessary.

10. Periods of Indian Art
SN Type Period
1 Indus valley culture 5000-1500 B.C
2 Pre-Mauryan 650-325 B.C
3 Mauryan 325-185 B.C
4 Sunga 185-72 B.C
5 Satvahan 200 B.C-200 A.D
6 Kushan -Gandhar 1 A.D-176 A.D
7 Gupta 320-600 A.D
8 Chalukyan 550-973 A.D
9 Pallav 600-750 A.D

11. SN Type Period
10 The Pala 700-1200 A.D
11 The Orissa Temples 700-1200 A.D
12 Khajuraho Temples 950-1050 A.D
13 Hoysala 1111-1318 A.D
14 Other Medieval Monuments 1000-1200 A.D
SN Type Period
15 Indo-Islamic Monuments 1200-1700 A.D
16 Portuguese, French and British 1526-1857 A.D
17 British Monuments 1857 -1947 A.D
18 Post-Independence After 1947 A.D
11

12. Sage Bhrugu divided the entire
knowledge related to Shilpashashtra
into three Volumes, Ten Shastras,
thirty-two Vidyas and sixty-four
Kalas. Yantra shastra (Machines) is
common to all volumes and it is
considered as 10th Shastra.

13. Scope and extent of Shilpashashtra
Table 1-Ten Engineering Sciences
1 कृ षि Biological Sciences
2 जल Water Resources
3 खनि Mining & Metallurgy
4 रथ Surface Transport
5 िौका Water Transport
6 व्योमयाि Air or Space Transport
7 वेश्म Dwellings / Habitations
8 प्राकार Forts
9 िगररचिा Town planning
10 यंत्र Machines

14. Vidyas related to Vastu-shastra
Vidyas (Techniques) under Veshma shastra are,
Vidyas (Techniques)
SN संस्कृ त Meaning
20 वासो षवद्या Tents
21 क
ु ट्टी षवद्या Mud houses or Huts
22 मंदिर षवद्या Houses
23 प्रासाि षवद्या Palaces

15. Eleven Kalas (Skills) out of 64
Kalas (Skills)
SN संस्कृ त Meaning
47 चममपटबंधि Erecting of Leather tent
48 मृिसाधि Soil preparation
49 तृणाच्छािि Roofing with grass
50 चूणोपलेप White Washing
51 वणमकमम Preparations of paint
52 िारू कमम Carpentry
53 मृिकमम Soil Conditioning
54 चचत्राद्यालेखि Drawing and Painting
55 प्रनतमाकरण Sculpture
56 तलक्रिया Foundations
57 शिखरकमम Construction of dome

16. Hindu Vastu Shastra was an integrated science. This science
included study of following inter-related subjects;
Inter-related subjects
Astrology (फल ज्योनतष्य) Astronomy (ग्रहज्योनतष्य)
Botany (वृक्षषवद्या) Drawing & Painting (चचत्रकमम)
Geometry (सूत्रग्रंथ) Horticulture (उपवि कला)
Iconography (मूतीकला) Machines (यंत्रिास्त्र)
Material science (द्रव्य ) Mathematics (गणणत)
Town planning (िगररचिा) Forts & Castles (प्राकारिास्त्र)
Eng. Texts (संदहता ग्रंथ) Temple arts (िेवालयषवद्या)
16

17. Origin -in 4000 B.C.-Indus Civilization is proof of it
Word Vastu – derived from Sanskrit root Vas
Definition - Vastu is one where Gods and
goddesses dwell and work together with humans.
Vastu Shashtra

18. वास्तुरचिा Vastu Shastra has a scientific base.
वास्तु ज्योनतष्य Vastu Jyotishya is non scientific and
irrelevant in the present era.
More than 500 Ancient text on the subject were compiled.
Oldest is Manasar (400BC) and recent is Mayamat
(500AD).Soft copies of Some 150 texts are available on NET.
Ancient India had 18 styles, developed by 18 sages.
North India -as per Manasar style
South India- as per Mayamat.

19. Vastushastra outlines basic principles which states
vastu must be durable, useful and aesthetically,
beautiful.
It also lays down that vastu is affected by rain
water, disturbances in the earth such as
earthquakes , the wind and environmental effects.
The prayer at the inauguration of vastu
“Let God of rain, earth, wind & Sun, God of
environment protect this structure.”

20. Kings Challenge for 1000 Years Life Temple
An Indian King gave challenge to architects to build a
temple which can stand for thousand years. One architect
built such a temple. The inscription on stone wall states
which means I have built a temple to last thousand years
life ,where there are no bricks no lime, no timber and no
steel. (Stones with spigot socket vertical joints, copper
plates- horizontal joints, door frames of stones, doors of
copper/silver used.)

21. 2. Construction materials
• Stones
• Bricks
• Timber
• Lime mortars
• Paints and pigments

22. Mud houses or Huts -Kutti Vidya

23. As per Mayamat, mud, bricks, lime, stones, wood,
metals and precious stones should be used in
construction of houses.
Construction Materials of ancient India

24. Mud (Soil) as Construction Material
Manifestations of Mud
Depending on the characteristics of the mud available,
availability of supporting materials and technology used,
different manifestations of mud are used.
These include Adobe or Sun-dried bricks, Cob, Rammed
earth, Pressed bricks, Wattle and Daub etc.

25. Mud as Construction Material
Advantages and possibilities of mud construction
 Mud is environmentally the most sustainable material.
 abundantly present, generally on the site itself.
 Its unique plasticity that allows it to be molded, its texture
and earthy feel lend its structures a certain timeless
quality.
 Buildings made of mud are also extremely comfortable,
both in warm and cool weather, due to its thermal
characteristics

26. Definitions
 Soil –It is an aggregate of inorganic and organic grains
less than 4.75 mm
 Clays are finest particles of size 75 -200 microns.
 The most important property of clay is its plasticity
 The change in water content changes the consistency from
very soft to hard as rock.
 Mud – It is a workable mixture of clayey soil and water.
Fine sand or stone dust etc may be added to it to impart
strength.

27. Manifestations of Mud
Depending on the characteristics of the mud
available, availability of supporting materials
and technology used, different
manifestations of mud are used. These
include Adobe or Sun-dried bricks, Cob,
Rammed earth, Pressed bricks, Wattle and
Daub etc.

29. Soil Stabilization in Ancient India
The soil was stabilized by adding hairs of goat, fine sand,
iron slag and stone dust. Shatapath bramhana mentions
use of sand, stone dust and iron slag for soil stabilization..
Use of Surkhi (powdered of burnt brick) for soil
stabilization was known in ancient times.

30. Preparation of soil by mixing various ingredients
and the process of mud plastering etc. is described
in details in Sakaladhikar. It recommends the water
content of the soil for plastering should be such
that when a clay ball rolled on the palm, the lines of
palm are printed on the clay ball.

31. Various processes of preparation of soil for idols, by mixing
different ingredients, gums, resins etc to make the soil
water repellent and hard, were known in ancient period.
The stabilized soils were used for mud walls, bricks,
plastering, and outer coat of idols, pottery and other
objects. References about stabilization methods used in a
period from Vedic time (5000 BC) to 15th century AD are
available in ancient Indian texts.
31

32. A suitable soil was mixed with extract of Trifala and
water. The soil was kneaded for a long period. The soil
such prepared was used for plastering of walls.
Coarse particles should be removed, fine sands if not
present, should be added to the soil (Silpa Ratna
c.14v.46, and Vastuvidya c.16v.2&3).

33. Gum of milky tees (Peepal Country fig etc) and
decoction (Kashaya) is added to soil during kneading.
As per Vastuvidya Savyakhya describes the soil
preparation as below,
 Add extracts of barks of milky trees, knead for one
to ten days
 Add extracts of barks of Shirish tree, knead for one
to ten days
 Add decoction (Kashaya), knead for one to ten days

34. The suitable soil was mixed with cow's milk, yogurt, ghee
and other material as stone dust; iron slag (up to 25 %)
was added.
Decoctions made from barks of Khadir or Arjun trees were
added to soil. Some other additive such as turpentine oil,
resinous exudation of Sal tree, grass (of kandru plant),
and poison from Kuntha plant were also added. The soil
was kneaded for one month. (Tantrasamuchhyaya
c.14v.113)
34

35. Case Studies
Gadi soils: These are special types of artificially
stabilized soil. Such soils were mainly used for
construction of Gadis or Havelis of rich persons.
The main constituents of गढी Gadi soil are local soil, fine
sand, cow dung, lime, extracts of बिल्वफल Belphal (Holy tree
fruit-Aegle marmelos), fibers of jute and water for
mixing.

36. Constituents of Gadi soil
 Local soil – 8 Ghamelas
 Sand - 4 Ghamelas
 Cow Dung - 2 Ghamelas
 Lime -1 Ghamela
 Fibers of Jute -0.5 Ghamela
 Pulp of Fruits of Bilva tree – 4 to 5 Nos
 Or Gud -3 kg

37. The mixture is allowed to mature for a minimum period of
30 days and kneaded every day. If a clay ball of the
prepared soil does not does not disintegrate when
immersed in water, then the procedure is considered
successful. Recent Latur earthquake showed that houses
constructed with गढी Gadi soils were more earthquake
resistant.

38. Lime and Lime Mortars
Sudha means -One which is white useful and
benevolent

39. Ancient references
Bhrugu samhita describes in detail the process of
preparation of lime mortar.
• Lime stones are excavated from underground mines
• These lime stones are calcinated (burnt) using wood
logs.
• The material is quenched (cooled) with water to get a
slaked lime. Itis sieved
• Lime mill is used to pulverize the mortar.

40. Ancient Lime mill

41. Types of sands for lime mortar preparation
1. कराल (size similar to Hirda seeds)
2. मुग्दी (size similar to green gram seeds)
3. गुल्माश (medium size sand)
4. कल्क (size similar to Bengal gram flour)
5. बिक्कण (Fine stone powder)
41

42. Briquettes of सुर्खी Surki (brick powder) and lime are
made and allowed to dry for 2 to 3 months. These
briquettes are finely powdered to get cementing
material called शाय Shyay. This sets in water hard and
is suitable for waterproofing of terraces.
Ancient cement

43. Grade of lime
• One which sets quickly even in water is termed
as First class.
• One which sets slowly in water is termed as
Second class.
• One which sets in air is termed as Third class.
• But one which does not set is termed as Forth
class.

44. Gender and Age of lime
• Gender of lime is Feminine and lime powder is
considered as neutral.
• During first eight days of preparation lime is not to
be used for construction. It is the childhood of lime.
• Lime mortar (if kept unused) becomes unsuitable
(Old).
44

45. Lime Plasters of ancient India
As per Bhrugusamhita भृगुसंबिता
• Wash and dry fine sand and Sieve slaked lime
• Cut cotton fibers into very fine pieces.
• Cook three food grains (बिजव) – Rice, Wheat and Barley
(equal parts).Cook powdered banana.
Mix all the above ingredients in the proportion given below
Fine sand -1 part; Slaked lime – 1 part; cooked grains – half
part; Cooked Banana powder – Half par; Cotton fibers – half
part.

46. As per Shilpa Ratna
A decoction of बिफला Trifala and white कथ्था Kathha (White
Catechu) is sometimes added to the plaster material
prepared (as mentioned above). While plastering a
solution of गुड jiggery is applied to the finished surface. The
surface becomes hard and smooth after few days.

47. Limes from Shells
Purest Lime prepared by burning couches (Shankha) or
oysters (Shipi). Fine sand, decoction of moog, jiggery
water and Banana powder is added to lime. The
recommended proportions are, Lime - 4 parts, Fine sand-
2 parts, Banana powder – 1 part and jiggery -1 part. All
ingredients are mixed by rolling again and again. This
molding clay is used for sculpturing.

48. Red Lime
• The red lime obtained by burning kankar
• It contains calcite CaCO3, Quartz, SiO2, red lime silicate
compounds are present as the dominating phase ,in the
white lime there are oxides and carbonates.
• Red lime is used for pointing and for plastering after mixing
with a little white lime and water.
• Red lime or “Kankar lime” is also made from special type of
clay which is rich in iron.

49. Use of Lime in Building Materials
A-Lime water: Lime water is made by adding lime to
water
B-Lime Plasters: a material used in a plastic state to from
a durable finishing coat to the surfaces of walls and
ceilings of a building.
C-Lime Mortars: mixtures of sand, lime, pozzolanic
materials, additives and water.
D-Lime Concrete: mixtures of sand and larger aggregates
with hydraulic lime, pozzolanic materials

50. Lime Construction in ancient India
Almost up to 1930, monumental buildings used to be
built in stone or brick masonry with thick stone cladding
in lime mortar.
Foot bridge more than 2000 years old, Chandrapur Maharashtra

51. Ingredient of Lime plasters
1 Ash 9 Cow dung 17 Mahuwa (Bassia
Latifalia) flowers
2 Bark of Neem 10 Egg white 18 Milk, curd or ghee
3 Bark of Pakar
tree(Ficus
11 Flowers and seeds of Silk
cotton tree
19 Mustard cake
Wihtiana
4 Bee wax 12 Green gram (Moog) 20 oil
5 Belgiri 13 Guggul (Balsumodendron) 21 Powder of Cattle
Horn
6 Black gram (Udad ) 14 Hemp fiber 22 Resin of Sal tree
7 Clay 15 Jaggery 23 Rice husk
8 Brick powder 16 Juice of Cactus 24 Saaf flower oil

52. Case Studies
मुल द्वारका
The explorations around Mul
Dwarka (Kodinar,Gujarat state)
yielded a circular structure on the
coast. The structure might have
served as lighthouse in the past.
The possible date of this structure
may be between the 12th and the
15th centuries AD.
52

53. Cave Paintings
a) Ajanta caves -The plaster for painting consisted of clay , cow
dung, stone powder, rise husk and lime.
b) Sirgirea caves
The plaster consisted of tempered clay, kaolin, rice husk, coconut
fibers and lime.
c) Bagh caves
The plaster consisted of red clay, green gram, lime and jute .
According to मानसोल्लास Mansoullas the plaster to be applied on the wall
consisted of powder of conch "shankh", katha, pulses, molasses,
and boiled bananas.

54. Flooring. : The पद्मिाभपूरम Padmanabhapurum
palace in Kerala was constructed around 1601 A.D
The black lustrous floors of the palace are still so
shiny that one can see one’s reflection in them.
The floors were made of a material that was unique
blend of burnt coconut shells, lime, palm toddy, the
whites of eggs and crushed extracts of certain barks
of trees and nuts. Modern engineers and artisans are
still unable to replicate the flooring.

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

57. 7- Ancient References
 Veda(s) - Krushna Yajur Veda, Rig-Veda , Shukla-
Yajurveda Samhita,
 PuraNa(s) - Agneyapuran , Matsyapooran,
Vishnudharmottar puran
 Shilpa Samhita(s) – Agastsamhita, Bhrugusamhita,
Brihat Samhita, Kashyapshilpam ,
The Name of original author and period of composition
is unknown

58.  Manushyalayachandrika-, Mayamat – Rajavallabh,
Sakaladhikar, Shilpadeepak, Shilparatnakar,
Shilpratna , Sukhanand Vastu, Vastuvidya ,
Vishwakarma Prakash, Vishwakarma Vastushashtra,
 BramhaN grantha- Shatapatha Brahman ,Taitariya
Bramhana
 Miscellaneous - Baudhayan Sulbsutra , Harassers
Panchratra , Parashariya krushi , Paraskar
Gruhyasutra, Tantra samuchhyaya
58

59. References -Modern
•Sharma V.V.(?)Translation of Sanskrit text Sudhalepavidhanam,
Published in I.H.Q. , March 1927, page 53-59
•Satish Chandra (2003) –History of architecture and ancient
building Materials ,Pub. Tech Books International, New Delhi.
•Nene, A.S. (2012) “Building Materials & Construction Techniques
of ancient India”, E-Book, www.Bookganga.com

60. This presentation is based on published and
unpublished books and articles of Late K.V. Vaze and
Late G.G. Joshi
Acknowledgement

61. Review the Past with modern perspective -
Kautilya
61