1) Ancient Indian texts like Vastushastras classified plants and trees based on their structure and uses. Different types of trees were recommended or forbidden for construction based on their hardness, uses, and effects on the structure. 2) Trees were classified based on factors like whether they had a hard core, direction of growth, age, and gender. Only trees in the middle ages of their life cycle were deemed suitable for construction. 3) Selection criteria for timber included avoiding trees grown in unsuitable conditions or areas, and signs like breakage, entanglement, or damage were used to determine a tree's quality.

1. National Symposium on
Tradition for Innovation towards better
Future
22 -23 June 2018
KKSU Ramtek

2. Dr. A. S. Nene
Prof. of Civil Engineering (Retd.)
VNIT Nagpur
Ancient Indian Botany
as depicted in Vastushastra Texts
2

3. Contents of Shilpashtra compiled by
sage Bhrugu
3
खंड - Volumes - 3
वलऴम -Subjects - 51
ळास्त्र - Sciences - 10
वलद्या - Techniques - 32
करा - Arts - 64

4. 4

5. १-कृ ऴी ळास्त्र 1-Biological Sciences
२-जर ळास्त्र 2- Water Resources Engineering
३-खनी ळास्त्र 3- Mining & Metallurgy
४- नौका ळास्त्र 4- Water Transport
५- यथ ळास्त्र 5- Surface Transport
६- वलभान ळास्त्र 6- Air/ Space Transport
७- लास्तु ळास्त्र 7-Dwelling
८- प्राकाय ळास्त्र 8-Forts & Castles
९- नगययचना 9-Town Planning
१०- मंत्र ळास्त्र 10 Machines & Mechanism

6. कृ ऴी ळास्त्र – लृषवलद्यांतगगत करा
१०१०१ – सवयाद्याकऴगण Ploughing
१०१०२ – लृषायोऩण Plantation
१०१०३ – मालाददषुवलचाय Barley & Sugarcane
processing
१०१०४ – लेणुतृणाददकृ ती Grass & Bamboo
Crafts
6

7. Western botany originated In 1735 when
Carl Linnaeus, in his book Systema
Natrrae, gave classification of plants.
But thousand years earlier ,Indian sages
classified Immovable things into different
divisions.
7

8. 8
Classification of Plants
( as per Rgveda , Manu,Charaka ,Susruta , Vaisesikas,
Udayana)
वंस्कृ त
ळब्द
English Meaning
लनस्ऩती Plants bearing fruits without evident flowers.
लृष Tress bearing both flowers and fruits.
वलरूध plants which spread on the ground
औऴधी annual plants bearing abundant flowers and fruits
which wither away after fructification used in
medicines
रता climbers and entwines
तृण Grasses
गुल्भ succulent shrubs
गुच्छ bushy herbs

9. 9
Plant anatomy -according to Parasara
• There are tissue systems meant
for the transportation of nutrients
and sap.
• The internal structure of the leaf
consists of innumerable
compartments, which are filled
with the sap and can’t be visible to
the naked eye.

10. 10
Five senses of perception
The plants are living creatures and
possess the five senses of perception.
This is described in verses 11 to 18,
chapter 184, of Mahabharata (3000BC),
as a dialogue between two sages Bhrugu
and Bharadwaja.
?

11. Living Things
11
•अस्तोत्र - things which have no circulation
•वस्तोस्त्र - things which have circulation
वस्तोस्त्र
अलगकस्तोत्र - Things having downward circulation-Human
उर्धलगस्तोत्र Things having upward circulation -plants
ततमगकस्तोत्र -Things having slant circulation- Animals

12. Definition of Botany
12
लृषादद प्रवलायोऴ ऩारनादद क्रिमा कृ वऴ्। बृगु

13. A civil engineer has to use different building
materials including wood.
 The quality and durability of the structure
depends upon the wood used.
 The life of the structure is also affected by trees
grown in its vicinity.
 Hence a civil engineer should have some basic
knowledge about botany.
13

14. Botanical Classification
Western Botanists divide trees into two classes viz.;
1) Endogenous or growing from inside and
2) Exogenous or growing from outside.
Ancient Indian Botanists divide trees into four
classes viz.;
1. तनस्वाय– Trees having no hard core
2. अंतस्वाय- Trees having hard core inside
3. फदशगस्वाय– Trees having hard core outside
4. वलगस्वाय - Trees having core throughout their
cross-section 14

15. 15
Indian Botanical Classification
अंत:वायाश्च लृषा् ऩनवतरूभुखा् वलगवायश्च
ळाकचचंचाद्या स्तारके यिभुकमफपराद्या फदश्वाय लृषा्।
तन्वाया् सळग्र्वप्तच््दळुकतयल् क्रकं ळुकाद्याश्च
कामागस्तेष्लाद्या
भर्धमबागे फदशयवऩच तत् वलगवायास्ततोऽन्मे॥
भनुष्मारमचंदिका

16. तनस्वाय trees are Pipal, Banyan and Holy fig.
However thick these trees grow they form no
core. Their flowers are closed. Fruits are
bunch of flowers
16
वऩंऩऱ लट औदुंफय

17. फदशगस्वाय trees, Endogenous trees, as per
western Botanist, are Bamboo, Coconut or
Bettle nut and others of this class.
17

18. अंतस्वाय trees or Exogenous trees, as per
western Botanist, are Mango, Jackfruit,
Neem tree and other trees.
18

19. वलगस्वाय trees are hard throughout the
cross-section. Tamarind, Babul, Shirish
tree and marking tree are the examples of
this class.
19

20. Unsuitable trees
लट, वऩऩर, औदुंफय, कदंफ, वप्तऩणग, ततंततणी, बफल्ल,
ऩराळ, ऩीरु, श्लेभांतक, ऩारयजात, सळरयऴ, प्रष.
तनस्वाय trees and वलगस्वाय trees are
unsuitable construction
20

21. Forbidden Trees
• Milky Trees: (with poisonous juices): milk bush
• Thorny Trees: Babul or Prickly pear
• Trees having hard through out: Tamarind or
Bunyan tree.
• Bushes: Which give shelter to small animals
and consequently serpents frequent them.
• Fruit bearing Trees: Mango, Guava etc. People
are tempted to throw stones.
• Other Trees (Trees without hard core)
21

22. 22
अश्वत्थोदुंफयश्च प्रषश्च लटलृषक:।
वप्तऩणगश्च बफल्लश्च ऩराळ: कु टजस्तथश्च।
ऩीरु श्लेष्भातकौ रोध्र: कदंफश्च ऩारयजातक:।
सळरयऴ कोवलदयश्च ततंततणीको भशािुभ:।
भमभत

23. Tree Recommended near Habitat
High trees or fruit bearing trees may be
allowed, provided they cast no shadow at
noon or overtop the building. The distance
of tree from house should be twice the
height of tree.
23

24. Confinement of trees (Vratabandha)
Some holy trees may be allowed to grow near
buildings, but they should be confined to a certain
area within a circular wall. Trees transgressing this
boundary by breaking through it, should be pruned
to avoid damage to the building.
24
छेद्या भंददय तश्चतरुश्चवीभाभ्मंतयस्था।
भनुष्मारमचंदिका
माभादूर्धलगभळेऴ लृषजतनता छमा ळस्मते गृशे॥
याजलल्रब

25. Classification of Trees
According to Gender
Gender: This subdivisions is based on the
direction of growth of the tree.
• Male trees : Trees strong vertically or in
compression.
• Female trees: Trees strong laterally or in tension
25

26. 26
ऩुरूऴ् खददय् वारो भधुक् स्ततकस्तथा ।
सळळंऩाजूगनाजकणी षीयणी ऩद्मचंदनौ ॥
वऩसळतोधंलन् वऩंडी सवंशो याजादन् ळभी ।
ऩुरूऴ् फकु र् लन्न्शषीरयणीत्मेकभाद्या् ।
वुन्र्धदवलभरवायास्थुवऩकोका् प्रसवर्धद् ॥
भनुष्मारमचंदिका
Tree Classification by Gender

27. 27
तनफावनसळरयऴाश्च एक: काकश्च कटपर:
ततसभवो सरकुं चश्चैल ऩनव: वप्तऩणगक: बौभाचैल
गलाषी चेत्मादम: स्त्रीभशीरुश: ॥ भमभत अ ५
खददय: खाददयश्चैल भधुक: षीरयणी तथा
।खातळंकु दृभा प्रोक्ताचेचांफे वायदायल: ॥ भमभत
दंतंच चंदनं चैल खददय: कददय: ळभीळाकश्च
ततंदुकश्कै ल ळंकु लृषा उददस्ता: मुक्तक्तकल्ऩतरु

28. Hard wood Trees
28
कदय खददय फकु र षीरयणी
ळाक ततंदुक ळंकु ळभी
चंदन भधुक दंत लन्न्श

29. 2-According to Age
Classification of Trees
Age: This subdivisions is based on the five life spans
the tree: Child, Young, Adult, Aged and Dead
The trees in the middle three spans of life are to be
used for constructional purposes.
29
फारत्ल कौभायं मौलनभथलाधगकं च तनधनं ।
ऩंचलमांस्तेतेऴांभर्धमे, नेष्टे, ळेऴाणीष्टातन॥ भ्रुगुवंदशता
?

30. Directional suitability of Trees
30
वौम्मादे: ळुबदौकवऩत्थक लटाचौदुंफयाश्च मकौ।
सळल्ऩदीवऩका
ऩुलगस्मा फकु रो कटश्च ळुबदोऽलाच्चां तथोदुंफयन्श्चत्र्मा।
चांफुलतोतु वऩप्ऩरतरु वप्तच्चदोवऩऽस्भृत:॥
कौफेमाग ददसळ नागवज्ञसततरु: प्रक्ष्श्श्च के यचुतौ
िभात।२२।
भनुष्मारमचंदिका अ १

31. Selection of a Tree for Timber
• in the compound of religious place,
• struck by lightening ,
• scorched by fire,
• grown in covered area, in unhygienic
conditions or
• grown along the roadside,
Do not Select a Tree, which is
31

32. 32
• broken by wind or animals or vehicles
impact,
• entangled by other trees or wound by
creepers,
• grown in anthills or supporting honey
beehive,
• grown on cremation ground or which
harbors vultures or owls.

33. To ascertain the stage of life of a tree, a bore
through the stem, at two feet above ground is made.
The age of the tree is indicated by
1) color of the core,
2) hardness and
3) juice oozing from the bore.
If a tree is already cut, instead of juice, the sound
produced by tamping with a heavy rod, will indicate
the stage of age.
Formation test
33
तीक्ष्श्ण वुच्चष्टरीभ्मांच ळोधमेत्प्रथभंिुभं।
गुरुळस्त्रेण भशतामवष्टके न प्रशायमेत ्॥

34. Knots in Wood
The wood should not be full of or
devoid of knots.
34
नाग्रंथीनाततगग्रंथीश्च न गुरु न सवभाकृ तत:।
ऩीठस्मात्वुख वंऩत्मैनतत दीघोच लाभन:॥

35. For seasoning of wood, it should be placed on sand
with bottom portion facing wind blowing from west
or south direction.
Seasoning of wood
35
कभगभंडऩके न्मव लारुके ऩरयळामतेत् ।
प्रागंघ्न चात्तयाग्र ला प्माळुश्कं यषवेत्ऩुन् ॥
भमभत

36. Before felling the tree, the branches of tree
should be cut first to avoid unusual strains.
Felling the tree
36
ळाराश्भथगजकणी उर्धलागश्च ऩतनंळुबं ॥ भमभत

37. Preservation of Wood
The wood should be painted to avoid the
losses of oily substance. An oil coat should
be applied every year after rainy season.
37
िव्मनाळस्तु कारेन स्नेशनाळात्प्रजामते ।
तस्भात्तैरं वदारेप्मं शेभंते सळसळयेऽमला॥
कभगभंडऩेचैल काष्ठं स्मािक्तयन्जतं ।
क्रकलाग्नेदग्धतत्कु दंगाया लृतशेतुना ॥ बृगुवंदशता

38. Frames and door shutters
Wood for frames and door shutters should be of
same type so that the action of weather may be
same on both. Unequal action produces unequal
strains and it is detrimental to architecture.
38
एक जातत तरूसब् प्रकन्ल्ऩतं व्दाय
ऩादपरकाददकं ळुबं । भनुष्मारमचंदिका

39. Tree Extracts
For seats of balloons extracts of few trees
are specified in Agastsamhita.
39
ऩराळोयाजक: ऩीडचंदन: वुखा उच्चते।
फकु रस्तुळुब: प्रोक्त: ऩनवस्तायक: स्भृत॥

40. The juice of coreless trees contains water retarding
substances (lac) and hence the juice was used in
preparing silk cloth gas holders in ancient India.
Water retarding substances
40
षीयिुभकदंफाम्रा गलाषत्लषैयवऩ।
बत्रपरांफुज्ञषयासवक्तं आऩमुऴैस्ततस्तत:॥
कौऴेकं जरफंधकं । अगस्त्मवंदशता
आकग ऩमो शुडवलऴाप्रवलवभेऴं।
ऩायालताखुळ कृ त्लाचमुतं प्ररेऩ:॥
तंकस्म तैरभचितस्म ततोऽस्मऩाथग।
ऩश्चात सळतस्म च सळरावुभदेन्व्दघत: फृशतवंदशता

41. 41
Panchang for Ayurvedic medicines

42. 42
Nirmali seeds and Khus grass roots
Core of Jamul tree wood and
Seeds of drumstick tree
Water Purification

43. 43
?
Herbal Colors for textile printing

44. 44
Ground symptoms and underground water
Type A B C
Branches Long Medium Small
Fruits Juicy Non juicy -
leaves big medium Small
grass Munj, kush - -
Water
quantity
Abundant Moderate Less, at
great depth
Water
quality
Sweet Salty Bitter

45. 45
Panchavati – Indicators of abundant
ground water

46. 46
भुर Root- Carrot, beetroot, raddish
ऩत्र Green vegitables- Methi, Paalak
करयय Sprout - Mushroom
तनमागव Tree resins –Hing,
पर Fruits- Mango, Apples, Lemon , Orange
कांड Stem of plant-Dhopa
अचधरुटक Bulbs- Potato, sweet potato, Yam
त्लकवाय layered- Banana tree or onion
ऩुष्ऩ Flowers- Drumstick,Agastya , Saffron
कलच Skin of fruits- Pumpkin, gourd
Botany in Kitchen

47. References
47
ऋग्लेद भशाबायत ळतऩथब्राम्शण फृशतवदशता
कश्मऩसळल्ऩ भनुष्मारम चंदिका भमभत बृगुवदशता
ऩायळयकृ ऴी वुिुत / चयक वंदशता याजलल्रब वकराचधकाया
कौदटल्म
अथगळास्त्र
सळल्ऩदीऩक वुखानंदलास्तु तैवत्ततमगम ब्राम्शण
लास्तुवलद्या लृषामुगलेद मुक्तीकल्ऩतरू अगस्त्मवदशता

48. 48
Inventions or Futuristic Ideas
1. Cucumber Juice as Soil De-plasticizer
2. Dowsing with herbal mehandi to locate
underground water sources.
3. Alchemy or Silver or Gold plating with
herbs.

49. Conclusions
• The study of botany was very essential for
Indian engineers in ancient India.
• It was a part of many ancient Indian
Engineering sciences.
•Nomenclature is more appropriate than
western botany.
•Many futuristic ideas are hidden in ancient
Indian botany.
49

50. 50
लनातन न: प्रजादशतातन।
Forests should not be destroyed -Rigveda 8-1-13
नभो लृषेभ्मा: लृषेभ्मा:औऴधीनाभ ऩतमे ऩतमेनभ: मजुलेद
Worship trees which give us medicines
मा औऴधी: ऩूलाग जाता देलेभ्मान्स्त्रमुगं ऩुया। ऋग्लेद १०-९७-१
Plants came to existence on earth first. Rigveda 10-97-1
तस्म रुऩेणेभे लृषा: शरयता: शरयतस्त्रज:॥ अथलगलेद १०-८-३१
Chlorophyll is the cause of greenness in trees
मेन प्राणंतत लीरुध:॥ अथलगलेद १-३२-१
Plants are life
लृषवो यषंतत यज्ञषता:। ऋग्लेद
Threes save them those who saves trees
दळऩुत्रोवभ: िुभ॥ ऩद्मऩुयाण १-४४-४५५
One tree is equal to ten sons.

51. 51
Acknowledgement-
This work is based on published / unpublished
works of Late K.V.Vaze and G.G.Joshi
Late K.V. Vaze
1869-1929
Late G.G. Joshi
1912-1992

52. River Ganges would abandon this earth
and after twenty-five hundred years the
earth would be a barren land.

53. For Comments or More information
Contact- E Mail Id
nene_ashok@yahoo.com
Or
prof.ashok.nene@gmail.com
53