ICSS 2017

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The methods of soil testing as revealed in Sanskrit Vāstuvidyā Texts.
(International Conference on Sanskrit Studies, 2017 Department of Sanskrit, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Madhusani, A.M.G.R.
The soil testing is the first and foremost requirement for the construction of any type of building. Various types of soil testing techniques have been introduced by Vāstu scholars. Those techniques are to be utilized to ascertain the durability, solidity and fertility of the land. Construction is not approved without testing the quality of soil by ancient sages whereas today the soil testing for building a house is not accepted as an essential subject. Different types of soil testing methods are being utilized only in construction highways and flats. But, in antiquity soil testing was compulsive for every construction. The ancient architect recommended the fitness of the site after close inspection of the earth's qualities. There are some special and peculiar ways to test the quality of the soil in Vāstu test. It is to be noted to that techniques mentioned in Sanskrit Vāstu sources are not only scientific but also practical. In this paper attempt is to be taken to examine those practical and scientific approach of soil testing with reference to the primary sources.
Concept of Dharma in Classical Hindu Law.
(International Conference on Sanskrit Studies, 2017 Department of Sanskrit, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Amarasinghe, P.; Attapattu, D.N.
The word Dharma has derived from the Sanskrit root “dhr”, which stands for the sustainability and preservation. Dharma plays a vital role in the center of Hinduism. The Aryan invasion the applicability of the term Dharma was visible in the earliest Vedic text “ Rig Veda”. In this very text of Vedic literature has left an apparent analysis on how Dharma becomes a cardinal principle in whole Hindu doctrine. A passage in “Puruña sūkta” refers to this commentary. In the beginning there was Dharma. Here it stood for the Natural or Cosmic Law. In fact, this paper mainly focuses on how this universal norm called “Dharma” was placed as cardinal virtue in Classical Hindu Law. In studying the vast literature relating to Hindu legal philosophy from Manusmruthi to the entire Dharmashastra literature, it becomes an obvious fact to understand that concept was Dharma had given a central position in Hindu jurisprudence. Many of the classical Hindu jurists had relied on their judicial interpreation mainly based on the concept of “Dharma”. Furthermore this paper will trace the discovery of "Manusmruthi" and how it influenced the the Western notion of understanding natural law in accordance with Dharma.
Theories mentioned in Sanskrit crafts literature regarding the manufacture of spittoons.
(International Conference on Sanskrit Studies, 2017 Department of Sanskrit, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Devagoda Piyaratana Thero
Ancient spittoons and chunam boxes are exceptional metal creations. Their exceptionality is due to their being manufactured with special skills. Such knowledge was transmitted to the workers concerned through Sanskrit literature on crafts. One theory about spittoons is that its mouth’s diameter should be one third the height of the entire object. Two-thirds of that height should form the space area of the spittoon bottom. The remaining one-third should form the base of the spittoon. This indicates that the width of the base is half that of the mouth of the spittoon. Another theory is the following. Should the diameter of the spittoon mouth be divided into five parts, the total height of the spittoon would consist of three such parts. Two of the three such parts would contain the body of the spittoon. One of these parts would form its base. The width of the base mouth is the equivalent of one part of the mouth width of the spittoon. The shape of the spittoon mouth is that the lotus flower. There are two types of spittoons. The first is relatively long. The other is relatively short. The discovery of the manner in which above mentioned theories have influenced the manufacture of spittoons forms the subject of this research. Another purpose of this research is the making known of these theories to modern manufacturers of such artefacts. In the course of this research the national museums of Colombo, Kandy, the Martin Wickremasinghe peoples’ museum, as well as spittoons still in the possession of ancient families were subjected to examination. The theories under consideration are only relevant as regards the short version of the spittoon. Although the lotus form is the predominant shape of classical spittoons, there are however other variants as well. It must be mentioned that the present day flower vases came into being through the popularization of spittoons. Spitoons manufactured by modern skilled workers lack the qualities of the ancient ones. Making the modern manufacturers aware of these ancient artifacts would influence them to a greater imitation of the classical types.

ICSS 2017

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