Padavinyāsa (diagrams) and Vāstupuruṣa Concept in the Ancient Building Construction: with Special Reference to Mayamata

Padavinyāsa (diagram) occupies an important position in the architectural description of the Mayamata, one of the most famous treaties of the Southern tradition of Vāstu. The text records thirty-two types of diagrams, beginning with the single-square Sakala and culminating in the 1024-square Indrakānta. These diagrams serve as the fundamental planning grids for different categories of buildings and are classified according to the number of constituent squares. Among them, the Maṇḍuka (64-square) and Paramaśāyika (81-square) diagrams are the most widely used in the several constructions. Each square is assigned to specific deities, reflecting the sacred cosmological framework underlying traditional Indian architecture. Closely associated with these diagrams is the concept of Vāstupuruṣa (VP), regarded as the spiritual embodiment of a building. The orientation and placement of VP determine the spatial organization of architectural elements, with the central Brahmasthāna reserved as an unobstructed zone. Beyond its mythological foundations, this concept also reveals practical architectural considerations, including ventilation, spatial balance, and optimal utilization of sunlight. The present study examines the classifications of Padavinyāsa, the structure of the Maṇḍuka and Paramaśāyika diagrams, and the significance of VP in the planning principles of the Mayamata.