ABSTRACT
Orientation by Numbers: The Aya Formula of Indian Architectural Theory
Vibhuti Chakrabarti
Certain aspects of the Indian architectural theory or Vastu Vidya are concerned with orientation through principles that prescribe the correct placement of rooms and functions in relation to each other and to the eight major directions (the four cardinals and four intermediary directions). The orientation principles emphasise auspicious location through the discussion of good and bad effects, which are derived from the various associations of the eight directions. The Aya formula stands alongside these orientation principles. The essay demonstrates that the main purpose of the formula is to translate directional quality into site proportion. All the eight Aya are discussed in detail, with a comparitive analysis of their associated properties collated from various primary texts on Vastu Vidya. The essay also critically analyses the scholarly and practical treatment the topic of Aya has received in the past, and what it shows in general about the system of Vastu Vidya.