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    Botany of Ancient India

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    Dr.A.S.Nene
    This document summarizes ancient Indian classifications of plants and trees. It discusses four classifications of trees used in ancient India based on their internal structure: Nissar (no hard core), Antassar (hard core inside), Bahhissar (hard core outside), and Sarvassar (hard core throughout). It also covers classifications based on gender (direction of growth) and age. The document provides examples of different types of trees and their suitability for construction based on ancient Indian literature. It concludes with a brief discussion on the importance of botany to ancient Indian engineers.

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    Botany of Ancient India

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    Dr.A.S.Nene
    1K views37 pages
    This document summarizes ancient Indian classifications of plants and trees. It discusses four classifications of trees used in ancient India based on their internal structure: Nissar (no hard core), Antassar (hard core inside), Bahhissar (hard core outside), and Sarvassar (hard core throughout). It also covers classifications based on gender (direction of growth) and age. The document provides examples of different types of trees and their suitability for construction based on ancient Indian literature. It concludes with a brief discussion on the importance of botany to ancient Indian engineers.

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    This document summarizes ancient Indian classifications of plants and trees. It discusses four classifications of trees used in ancient India based on their internal structure: Nissar (no hard core), Antassar (hard core inside), Bahhissar (hard core outside), and Sarvassar (hard core throughout). It also covers classifications based on gender (direction of growth) and age. The document provides examples of different types of trees and their suitability for construction based on ancient Indian literature. It concludes with a brief discussion on the importance of botany to ancient Indian engineers.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    1K views37 pages

    Botany of Ancient India

    Uploaded by

    Dr.A.S.Nene
    This document summarizes ancient Indian classifications of plants and trees. It discusses four classifications of trees used in ancient India based on their internal structure: Nissar (no hard core), Antassar (hard core inside), Bahhissar (hard core outside), and Sarvassar (hard core throughout). It also covers classifications based on gender (direction of growth) and age. The document provides examples of different types of trees and their suitability for construction based on ancient Indian literature. It concludes with a brief discussion on the importance of botany to ancient Indian engineers.

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    You are on page 1of 37

    This Presentation is based on an article by K.V.

    Vaze, published in Vedic Magazine Lahore (November 1922, pages 268 282)

    Dr. A.S. Nene

    Environment means neighborhood of

    Living Things
    1. Astrot - things which have no circulation 2. Sastrot - things which have circulation

    Sastrot things
    I. Arwakstrota (Things having downward circulation) II. Titakastrota (Things having slant circulation) III. Utstrota (Things having upward circulation)

    Utstrota or plant life

    Living Things

    Definition of Botany

    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

    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

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

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

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

    Indian Botanical Classification

    Nissar trees and Sarvassar trees are unsuitable construction


    Unsuitable trees Pipal , Banyan , Holy fig, Kadamba Saptaparn ,Tamarind Bilva Palash, Pilu ,Kutaj, Shlemantak, Lodhra , Parijat, Kovider, Shirish, Plaksha, Mahadroom

    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)

    Forbidden Trees

    Unsuitable Trees

    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.

    Tree Recommended near Habitat

    Trees permitted to grow near Habitat

    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.

    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

    Male Tree

    Female Tree

    Hard wood Trees

    Classification of Trees
    According to Age
    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.

    Directional suitability of Trees

    Selection of a Tree for Timber


    Do not Select a Tree, which is
    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.

    Formation test

    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.

    Selection of Wood

    Knots in Wood
    The wood should not be full of or devoid of knots.

    Seasoning of wood
    For seasoning of wood, it should be placed on sand with bottom portion facing wind blowing from west or south direction.

    Felling the tree


    Before felling the tree, the branches of tree should be cut first to avoid unusual strains.

    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.

    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.

    Tree Extracts
    For seats of balloons extracts of few trees are specified in Agastsamhita.

    Water retarding substances


    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.

    Conclusions
    The study of botany was very useful and for Indian engineers. It had formed a part of ancient Indian Engineering sciences. essential

    References from Ancient Indian Literature

    Agastsamhita Kashyapa Shilpa Parashariya krushi Shatapath Bramhana Vastu Vidya

    Bhrugusamhita Manushyalaya chandrika Paraskar Gruhyasutra Shilpadeepak

    Bruhatsamhita Mayamat Rajavallabha

    Geeta Panini Sakaladhikara

    Sukhanand Vastu Yuktikalpataru

    Taitariya Bramhana

    Yogavashishta

    For more information contact

    Dr. A.S. Nene, Professor of Civil Engineering (Retd) V.N.I.T. Nagpur Email: nene_ashok@yahoo.com

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