The document discusses ancient Indian building materials and construction techniques. It describes various materials used like mud, bricks, lime, stones and wood. It provides details on production processes for mud blocks, bricks and lime mortar. It outlines appropriate mixtures and curing times. Examples of ancient structures that utilized these materials are also highlighted, demonstrating sophisticated construction knowledge existed in ancient India.

1. Edited by
Dr. A. S. Nene
nene_ashok@yahoo.com
Buildinging Materials & Construction
Techniques of Ancient India
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

2. Eight ancient Indian tools of a
Sthapati (Engineer/ Architect)
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

3. Mud, bricks, lime, stones, wood, metals and
precious stones should be used in
construction of houses - Mayamat
Ancient Building Materials
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

4. 1. Soil /Mud
Techniques (Vidya) related to Veshma Shashtra
Vaso vidya-Huts (made of barks/skin)
Kutti vidya-Mud houses
Arts related to Kutti vidya
 Mrutsadhan - Soil conditioning
 TruNadyachhadan - Roofing with grass
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

5. Definitions
Soil –It is an aggregate of inorganic and
organic grains which can be separated by
simple mechanical action such as agitation in
water or by sieving.
Clays: Clays are finest particles of soil with
a size smaller than 75 microns.
Mud – It is a workable mixture of clay soil
and water.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

6. MANIFESTATIONS OF MUD
Cob Adobe / Sun- dried blocks
Rammed earth
Wattle and Daub
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7. Advantages of Adobe material
•Adobe has relatively high thermal conductivity
•Adobe has sound insulation property.
•Mud construction is really cost-effective,
•Mud construction is a labor intensive mode
Disadvantages
•Mud construction has low strength compared to
brick or stone construction.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

8. SOIL STABILIZATION
Functions of soil plasticizers
• Increase the workability with minimum water
content
• Increase the water repellent property
• Increase the strength by increasing the
density.
• Impart glazing to pottery products.
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9. Ancient plasticizers can be grouped as
Extracts of Herbs, Fruits and tree barks
Trifala- Aamla, Hirda and Behada1
Wood apple2, Holy tree fruit3
Barks- Khadir4, Arjun trees
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10. Natural fibers
Cotton, coir, wool, silk cotton or jute
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11. Natural polymers
Cow Dung, Jaggaery, Coconut water, Eggs,
Green Algae, rice husk, burnt coconut shell
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12. Idols - Mud plaster
This constancy is determined by rolling
the clay mass on the palms. When the lines
of palm are clearly impressed on the clay
mass the constancy is proper.
Liquidity index for this consistency (Palm line limit)
corresponds to 15 to 20 %
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

13. CASE STUDIES
A. Gadi soils –white soil
The main constituents
are local soil, fine sand,
cow dung, quick lime,
extracts of Belphal ,
fibers of jute and water
for mixing.
The mixture is allowed to
mature for a minimum
period of 30 days and
kneaded everyday.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

14. 2. Mud flooring.
The floors of were made
of a material that is unique
blend of burnt coconut
shells, quick lime, palm
toddy, the whites of eggs
and extracts of certain
barks of trees and nuts.
Padmanabhapurum palace (1601 A.D) in Kerala
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15. Laurie Baker & his work
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16. 2-Bricks & Roof Tiles
Mohenjodaro –2500 BC
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17. Origin of Bricks
Sanskrit word for brick is "Istika" meaning
comfort giving or well being. On being
burnt, the mud blocks of fire place (Yadnya
kund) turned into a baked brick. Sage
Angirus was an authority on brick making.
Ref. Shatapatha Brahman
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18. Bricks and Tiles making
1. Selection of suitable site and collection of soil
2. Wetting & Kneading the brick earth, Mixing of
additives.
3. Hand molding of bricks
4. Sun dying of bricks
5. Kiln Preparation and firing the bricks
6. Cooling and quenching of bricks
7. Rejecting damaged or non standard bricks
8. Testing of bricks
9. Classification & qualities
Ref -Shilparatna, (c14, v48-51)
Various stages involved
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19. Class I II III IV
Color White Red Yellow Black
Suitability Best Good Average Worst
Ref -Vishnudharmottar Purana ,Vastu Vidya , Mayamat
Brick earth suitability based on color
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20. • Extracts of barks of milky trees
• Fine sand and ferrous soils
• Decoction of Trifala
Ref. Shilparatna and Mayamat
Additives for brick earth
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21. Moulds and Molding of bricks
 As per Vastu Vidya Wooden moulds,
minimum thickness of 20 mm.
 Measurements of moulds are specified in
Shulbsutra (Aapstamb)
 Tamping of wet bricks after partial into
proper size & further drying. Some special
shaped bricks. Ref. Vastu Vidya (c.19).
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22. Description of brick kilns
• Bricks or tiles were baked in closed
Kilns.
• The temperature of the Kiln was
controlled;
• Smoke-pipes were kept in the Kiln
• Twigs of the trees like Pepal, Khadir
Palash etc.
• The bricks or tiles were allowed to
bake for about ten to fifteen days.
Ref. -Shilparatna , Vastuvidya and Shilpadipak
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23. Cooling and quenching of bricks
• The fire should be extinguished after 15 days
• Bricks should be immersed in water for six to twelve
months before these are used
Bauddhayan Shalbsutra- measurement of bricks
used in constructing Holy pyre. The description of
Hansmukhi (pentagonal) and Choukoni(four sided)
bricks.
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24. Brick Classification
Masculine
• Bricks with the same width at the front and the
back
• Having parallel edges
• Best for a for buildings .
Feminine -Bricks
• Lesser width at the front than at the back
• Curved but parallel edges
• Building temples of Goddesses.
Neuter- bricks
• Greater width at the front
• Curved but non parallel edges
• Discarded but used for other purposes.
Ref – Shilparatna , Kashyap-Shilpam(and Ishan Shivgurudev paddhati
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25. Shapes& Sizes of Bricks
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26. Unsuitable bricks and the defects
•Non-specific dimensions
•Non-uniformly baked
•Different color inside and outside.
•with broken corners,
•containing pieces of stone pebbles and coal
Ref- Ishan Shivgurudev Paddhati, Hayashirsh,
Panchratra, , Shatpath Brahman, and Baudhayan
Shulbsutra.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

27. Roof Tiles
Types and Sizes of roofing tiles
Neevraloshta , Urdhwaloshta, Turyakloshta
Kroorloshta , Dhwashraloshta, Keellloshta
Gartakonaloshta , Konaloshta , Putloshta
Ref.- Shilparatna, Vastuvidya and Vastu Vidya
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28. Name of Bond
in the order of
strength
Layers in which
joints are exactly
above First Layer
1.Toda or Patti Third
2.Mallaleel Fourth
3.Brahmraj Fifth
4.Panchparva Sixth
5.Poogparva Seventh
6.Devsandhi Ninths
6.Swana twelfth
7.Dandak Fourteenth
Brick bonds
Samarangana Stradhar (c10-v26.), Baudhayan Shulbsutra,
Vasturatnakar
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29. 1 - Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa Civilization
Brick Size - 10 x 20 x 40 cm
2 – Floating Bricks of Maharashtra during 10th to 17th
centaury
Gora kumbhar (1267 to 1317 AD) – Floating Bricks at
Tera doki (near Kurduwadi)
 Sizes of bricks vary from 350x175x75 mm to
450x225x150mm.
 Properly fired
 Lighter by 2 to 10 times compared to modern
bricks
 Contains micro pores partially interconnected.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

30. Written instructions by Swami Ramadas’s to Shiwaji ,
about bricks and brick construction.
•Bricks should be of uniform size and with square corners
•Size should be 9x7x3 tasu.(1 tasu = 37.5 mm)
•Brickearth should be prepared by proper mixing of red clayey
soil, ash, dung of cow or horse.
•Soil mixed with water should be kneaded frequently
•The soil should be free from gravels
•Wooden moulds should be used for casting bricks. Sides should
be fixed by driving nails.
•Bricks should be sun dried and then fired in kilns. The fire
wood should be dry and of medium size.
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31. Bricks of Lothal -1500 BC
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32. Village Sirpur (Chhattisgarh) 5th century AD.
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33. Remains of Pravarapura, Mansar (MS)
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34. Lakshmana Temple, Sirpur -Chattisgarh
 Lakshmana temple built by Queen Vasata, in 7th century AD is
world heritage structure
 Brick temple stands on a high massive platform
 This temple is one among the best examples of brick temples
of ancient India. Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

35. Clay cart of Mohenjodaro
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36. 3. Lime and Lime Mortars
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37. 1. Excavation of lime stone from underground mines
2. Calcinatation (Burning lime stones)
3. Quenching (cooling) with water to obtain a slaked lime
4. Sieving of the material to remove stones and other
impurities.
5. Lime mortar preparation by mixing with sand
6. Pulverization by Lime mill to obtain the mortar.
Ref. -Bhrugu samhita
Process of preparation of lime mortar
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38. Five types of sands for lime mortars
1. Karal (size similar to hirda seeds)
2. Mugdi (size similar to green gram
seeds)
3. Gulmash (medium size sand)
4. Kalk (size similar to Bengal gram flour)
5. ChikkaN (Fine silt)
Ref.Mayamat chp.18
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39. Briquettes of Surki (brick powder) and lime
are made and allowed to dry for 2 to 3 months.
These briquettes are fired and then finely
powdered to get cementing material called
Shyay.
Ancient Cement
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40. Classification of Lime
Grade
First class Sets quickly even in water
Second class Sets slowly in water
Third class sets slowly in water
Forth class which does not set
Gender
lime Feminine
lime powder Neutral
Age
childhood First 8 days of preparation lime
Old kept unused or unsuitable
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41. Lime Plasters
1. Wash and dry fine sand
2. Sieve slaked lime to separate coarse materials.
3. Cut cotton fibers into very fine pieces.
4. Cook three food grains (Trijava) – Rice, Wheat and Barley
(equal parts).
5. 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 part
Cotton fibers Half part
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42. Lime Mortar
Grind ripe bananas, fibers of cotton
and pulp of cactus and mix in slaked
lime to make a good quality lime
mortar. Alternatively add decoction of
barks of trees( Pipal. Amla,Kadamb)
and paste of black gram to the slaked
lime.

43. Sudha - Molding Lime for sculpturing
Lime prepared by burning couches (Shankha) or
oysters (Shipi) is called Sudha. 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.
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

44. Red lime: More popularly known as “Kankar lime” is
made from special type of clay. It is unfertile
soil(Saline/User) and is rich in iron. It is also called
kankar.
Red Lime
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

45. Ingredient for Lime plasters
1 Ash 9 Cow dung 17 Mahuwa flowers
2 Bark of Neem 10 Egg white 18 Milk, curd or ghee
3 Bark of Pakar tree 11 Flowers Silk cotton tree 19 Mustard cake
4 Bee wax 12 Green gram (Moog) 20 oil
5 Belgiri (aegle'pulp) 13 Guggul 21 Powder of Cattle horn
6 Black gram(Udad ) 14 Hemp fiber 22 Resin of Sal tree
7 Brick powder 15 Jaggery 23 Rice husk
8 Clay 16 Juice of Cactus 24 Saaf flower oil
Natural Polymers for Lime Mortar
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

46. Case Studies
Brick Mortar
 A Light House structure on the coast near Mul Dwarka
(Kodinar)
The possible date of this structure is 12th and the 15th
centuries AD.
As per SEM analysis lime mortar was used .
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47. Plaster and the techniques of wall preparation for paintings
• Very special material for the plaster used on
wall on which painting is to done.
• Vishnudharmottar Purana describes the
materials and technique for such application.
• Plaster used on the wall of Ajanta caves,
Sirgiria caves and Bagh caves were created
using such techniques.
•In addition to plaster, the technique of
producing different color are elaborated.
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48. Cave Paintings
Caves Constituents of plaster
Ajanta caves Clay, cow dung, stone powder,
rise husk and lime.
Sirgirea caves Tempered clay, kaolin, rice
husk, Coconut shell fibers and
lime.
Bagh caves Red clay, green gram, lime and
jute.
Ref. Mansoullas which recommends use of powder
of conch "shankh", katha, pulses, molasses, and
boiled bananas.
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49. 4a-Sunla
Curd, milk, black gram paste, gud,
ghee, ripe bananas, coconut and
mango pulp are added to slake lime.
Plaster made of these materials is
non-shrinking and waterproof.

50. Waterproof lime mortar
Mix Ghee, coconut water, black
gram paste , extract of
barks(Pipal), milk, curd,
decoction of Trifala, and Pichhit,
in proportion of 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
and 11 parts to 100 parts of
slaked lime.

51. Fresco wall painting at Boscoreale
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52. 4. Building Stones
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53. Uses of Stones
 Making sculptures
 Building blocks for construction.
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54. Sources of building stones
 From hills
 From underground mines
 Riverbanks and forests
The stones obtained from barren land,
graveyard or those embedded in ground
are unsuitable.
Stones obtained from sites unsuitable
for habitation are also unsuitable.
Ref. Kashyapashilpa
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55. Classification of stones
By Color
White
Milk, Jaya flower, Buffalo’s eye, Conch,
Moon, Pearl Crystal et
Red
Indragop (insect), Rabbit’s blood or
Pomegranate Flower etc.
Yellow Flowers like, Mallika or Korandi
Black
Kajal (eye ointment), Blue lotus, Wasp,
Vest part of peacock, black gram etc
Ref. KashyapashilpaRamtek -7 Aug 2014

56. Stones of first or third category are unsuitable
By Age
Child Sound produced as un-burnt
bricks, long or flat in shape as
a leaf
Young Long ringing sound like bell,
soft in touch, with good smell,
without pores
Old Non-ringing sound, highly
porous, highly weathered
Ref. MayamatRamtek -7 Aug 2014

57. By Gender
Male Big, rounded, which produces
sparks when hit with chisel- Suitable
for columns
Female Medium size, soft in touch, broad at
base –Suitable for beams
Neutral Small, broad at top, not sounding-
Suitable as aggregates
Ref. Vishnudharmottar Purana
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58. Defects in building stones
Lines • curvilinear (as thread),
• straight (as sun rays)
• parallel (as rains)
Spots size.  lemon fruit (15-20 mm),
 grape size (5-10 mm),
 less than 5 mm.
Ref. Mayamat
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59. Detection Of Defects In Rocks
Microscopic defects in stones , which were
invisible to eyes, were detected by applying
some herbal paints so that the defects were
clearly visible.
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60. Selection of Building Stones
•The stones which are weathered, contains sand grains or
disintegrates on immersion in water are termed unsuitable
(Kashyapashilpa ,Shilpratna )
•Stones from unsuitable site, used stones, stones with
inferior minerals are termed unsuitable (Mayamat ,
Vishnupuran)
•Stone with one side very long compared to other sides
should not be used. (Shilpratna )
•Brittle or porous stones, non-uniform colored stones are
unsuitable (Shilpratna, Vishnupuran)
•Stones with cavities inside or poisonous stones should not
be used. The ancient texts describe methods to check such
defects. (Mayamat , Shilpratna )
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61. Stone softening
The Incas employed certain methods to make
their stones fit perfectly. They knew a plant whose
juices rendered the surface of a block so soft that
the intricate fittings were accomplished.
Stone with 14 angles
Stone wall at Cuzco (Peru)
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62. Breaking of stone blocks
Heating: The stone block is heated by make a
pyre of wooden logs of Palash or Tinduk trees.
The heating is continued till the color of wooden
logs becomes bright red or orange.
Cooling: The fire is moved to adjacent area of
rock surface. The preheated surface is cooled down
quickly by pouring certain types of liquids listed
below.
•Solution of quick lime in cold water
•Solution prepared by mixing buttermilk with rice paste, ripe
berries.
•Solution prepared by boiling Neem leaves and some tree
barks.
Ref. Brihat SamhitaRamtek -7 Aug 2014

63. Tempering or hardening of tools
1. heating the tool in fire until it becomes red hot.
2. application of paste of certain materials and / or
dipping the red-hot tool in a specific solution.
1. sharpening the tools.
The Paste / solution used in step 2
Paste made of
• excreta of pigeon and rat,
• powder of horns of a buffalo
• milk extract of a plant (Mandar)
 Solution of buttermilk and ash of banana plant
Ref. Brihat Samhita
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

64. Suranga –A water tunnel
Suranga is a tunnels bored horizontally
on the slopes of hills to get clean drinking
quality water.
Found in many parts of Dakshina Kannada
district of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of
Kerala
‘Quanat’ is a similar structure used in Iran
and Iraq
Quanat
Suranga
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65. Ashtabandha and Vajralepa
Special Mortars for Brick or Stone masonry
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66. Adamantine glues
A bonding agent mortar or glue was very essential
for fixing idols, in wall construction, when cement
and other modern materials were unknown.
Even now these glues, known as Astabandha, are
prepared in temple premises for fixing or re-fixing
images of gods.
Five prescriptions for such glues are described in
Shilpashastras
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67. Ancient Indian texts such as Brhatsamhita of
Varaha-Mihira and Mayamatam of Sage Maya (5-6th
century AD) describes the materials and methods
of cementing material in chapter Vajralepa.
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68. The ingredients are
1. Unripe fruits of Tinduka and Kapittaka,
2. Flowers of silk cotton
3. Seeds of Sallaki
4. barks of Dhanavana and Vacha
All these ingredients are boiled in 256 parts of
water till the decoction reduces to One-eighth of
its original volume (i.e.32 Parts). The sediments
are mixed with substances, such as.
First Variety
Explained in Brihatsamhita
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

69. Shrivasaka Raktabola
(myrrh)
Guggulu Bhallataka
Kunduruka
or tree resin
Atasi Bilva) fruit
The resulting paste is termed as adamantine glue. It
was expected to last for a million years.
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70. Second Variety –As per Mayamat
Lac Kunduru soot (lamp
black)
Guggulu wood-apple Manjiostha
resin
Bilva
kernel
fruits of Naga,
neem,Tinduka ,
Madana , Madhuka,
myrrh and
Ambalaka
The method of preparation is same as
mentioned above.
Ingredients are
Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

71. Third Variety As per Brihatsamhita
This variety of glue known as Vajratala or Vajralepa
Ingredients are
• horns of cows, buffalo and goats,
• hairs of donkey,
• buffalo hide, cow hide,
• Neem fruits,wood-apples and myrrh.
This mixture too should be boiled in water and
reduced to one-eight. In this glue some organic
substances are also included
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72. Forth Variety by Maya
A compound of eight parts lead, two of Bell
metal, and one of iron rust, and is known as
Vajrasanghata ( Adamantine compound)
It may include other materials mentioned in
the previous versions as well ,
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73. Fifth Variety popular in Kerala
Preparing the mixture is a 41-day long procedure and
the eight ingredients are
# From the Bharatapuzha a river in Kerala, India
1.Finely powdered conch
2. gall-nut
3. sealing wax
4. resin of pinus dammar’
5. Cotton
6. Fruits of gooseberry
7. Small sized gravels #
8. Medium sized gravels #
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74. Mixture is hammered by four or five men alternatively.
During this process one turns it with an iron spatula.
 only wooden hammers made of tamarind wood are used.
The weight of the hammer would be 8 to 10 kilos.
The lump is very soft and malleable.
It becomes hot during the hammering and becomes hard like
stone when the hammering is stopped.
An estimated 0.1 million hits of hammering are needed for a
kilogram of adhesive.
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75. Musical Pillars at Hampi, Vijaynagar AP
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76. 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.
5. Timber for Construction
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77. Environment means neighborhood of
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78. Indian 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. Nissar – Trees having no hard core
2. Antassar- Trees having hard core inside
3. Bahhissar – Trees having hard core outside
4. Sarvassar- Trees having core throughout their cross-section
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79. 1.Nissar 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
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80. 2.Bahhissar trees, Endogenous trees, as per
western Botanist, are Bamboo, Coconut or
Bettle nut and others of this class.
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81. 3. Antassar trees or Exogenous trees, as per
western Botanist, are Mango, Jackfruit, Neem
tree and other trees.
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82. 4. Sarvassar trees are hard throughout the
cross-section. Tamarind, Babul, Shirish tree
and marking tree are the examples of this
class.
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83. Unsuitable trees
Pipal , Banyan , Holy fig, Kadamba
Saptaparn ,Tamarind Bilva Palash,
Pilu ,Kutaj, Shlemantak, Lodhra ,
Parijat, Kovider, Shirish, Plaksha,
Mahadroom
Nissar trees and Sarvassar trees are
unsuitable construction
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84. 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)
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85. Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

86. 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.
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87. Trees permitted to grow near Habitat
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88. 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.
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89. 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
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90. Ramtek -7 Aug 2014

91. Hard wood Trees
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92. 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. The trees in the extreme two
spans (childhood and decay) of life should not be used.
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93. 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
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94. Directional suitability of Trees
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95. 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,
• 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.
Do not Select a Tree, which is
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96. Knots in Wood
The wood should not be full of or devoid of knots.
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97. For seasoning of wood, it should be placed on sand
with bottom portion facing wind blowing from west or
south direction.
Seasoning of wood
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98. Before felling the tree, the branches of tree
should be cut first to avoid unusual strains.
Felling the tree
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99. 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.
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100. 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.
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101. Tree Extracts
For seats of balloons extracts of few trees
are specified in Agastsamhita.
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102. 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
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103. Woodwork Joints
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104.  Rathakar - Maker of chariots
 Badai - Carpenter
 Vidalkari - Women bamboo
worker
Names of wood workers - Shatapatha Brahman (3.6-12)
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105. 6.Colors and Paints
To enhance the aesthetics of any structure.
To improve the durability .
•Vishnudharmottara Purana
•Chitrasutra
•Abhilisharthachintamani
•Manosollas
Related ancient Indian texts
The main purpose of colors and paints

106. Basic Colors
White, yellow, red, black and blue are five
basic (pure) colors. All other composite
colors are made from these colors.

107. White color - White color is prepared from lime
made of shells or mother of pearls or from white clay
(pottery clay-Kaolin). White color is prepared by
mixing resins of Neem or wood apple tree with white
soil or lime. The mixture is pulverized and dissolved
in hot water.

108. Yellow color - Yellow color is prepared from
pounding yellow wood trees (Haridra) and yellow
soil (from hills or river banks) together. The
mixture is poured in clear water for two hours.
The top yellow solution is stored in earth pot till
it dries. The dry powder is used for preparing
yellow color.
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109. Red color - Red color is prepared from Sindur (Vermilion), Gaierik
(Red ochre), Hingul (Cinnabar) or Laksharus (Shellac) to get light,
medium, dark and very dark shades respectively. Red ochre is finely
pulverized and sieved through a muslin cloth. The powder is cleaned by
mixing with water. Vermillion is mixed in water and stirred for 12 hours.
Manashil is dry pulverized by pounding in mortar with pestle. All these
colors are mixed with resin of Neem.

110. Black color -Oil lamp is ignited in a mud pot. Inner
surface of another mud pot is smeared with powder of dry
cow dung. This pot is place on the first pot such that lamp
black is coated inside the top pot. The lamp black is cleaned
with water before application.
Blue color - Blue color is prepared by drying a mixture
of blue minerals or indigo and resin of wood apple.
Golden color - Golden color is prepared from gold foil
pulverized with fine sand. The mixture is poured in water and
top suspension is separated and mixed with adamantine glue.
The painted surface is polished with horn (of an ox or swine).
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111. Hide Glue
A hide glue. Hide glue (Sirus or Shirus) is prepared from fresh
skin of a buffalo cooked in water till it becomes soft as butter.
Water is allowed to evaporate. The material is cut into small
pieces are dried in sunlight. When needed the dried piece is
boiled in water. This is a substitute for resins of tree. This glue
is called Vajralep .

112. Brushes
Brushes (Kunchali) used for painting are of three
types, broad, medium and fine. These three types
of brushes are made from hairs of ears of calf,
stomach part of sheep or tail of squirrel
respectively. A set of three brushes are required
for each color. Ref. - Abhilashitartha Chitamani
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113. Composite colors were made by mixing two
or more basic (pure) colors.
Composite Colors
Table – Composite colors
Basic colors to be mixed Resulting composite color
White + Red Gour light Pink
White + Black +Yellow Shar color
White + Black Elephant skin color
Red+ Yellow Bakul flower color
2 parts Red+1 part Yellow flame color
Dark Red+Yellow Fire color
2 parts Yellow +1 part white gray color
2 parts Yellow +1 part black aqua color
White +Yellow skin color
Yellow +Blue parrot green color
Shellac+Hingul Dark Red
Shellac+black Purple color
Blue+black Hair color

114. Paintings at Ajanta & Ellora Cave

115. This presentation is only a tip of huge iceberg i.e. Ancient Indian
Shilpashastra.
The main purpose to acquaint the engineers and students about the
glorious heritage of ancient India.
Many of the ancient techniques may have become irrelevant with the
advent of modern materials and construction equipments. But one
must admire the wisdom of ancient engineers of India.
The ancient Indian texts are not religious books compiled for people
of a particular religion or caste. These are encyclopedias of all
subjects.
If this presentation could inspire few research workers to look into
other hidden aspects related to their profession, the purpose of
this presentation will be more than fulfilled.

116. India’s Contribution to World
 Mantra – Futuristic Invention
Ideas
 Tantra –Technology
 Yantra –Machines & Mechanisms
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117. Acknowledgement
This presentation is based on published and
unpublished works of Late K.V.Vaze and G.G.Joshi
Late K.V. Vaze
1869-1929
Late G.G. Joshi
1912-1992
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118. Review the Past with modern perspective
- Kautilya