Chapter 30 - The Stables for the Horses (Aśvaśāla)

[Note: This chapter corresponds to Chapter 33 of the original Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra]

Nowhere in any other extant work on the Vāstu-Śāstra are such brilliant, beautiful and detailed accounts of the Aśvaśālā given. Aśvaśāla being one of the most important accessory buildings in the royal compound (and the horse being the most dignified royal vehicle) when described by an author, who was himself a king and that king was Bhoja of Dhārā, it is natural that the description should be copious and most upto date. Such is the case in the present chapter. Every detail is charming and hence it is tempting to translate the whole chapter rather than to summarise it.

An Aśvaśāla should be planned in the very compound of the owner viz. royal compound on the site of Gandharva or Puṣpadanta. Its dimensions vary in its respective varieties of the superior, the middle and the inferior types from 100 Aratnis to 80 and to 60 respectively. Then follow the auspicious places where this structure is to be made on an auspious date with the auspicious wood. A stable for horses (aśvaśāla) should in no case be built on the prohibited sites, nor should prohibited wood be employed, it should be selected with great care.

In the planning of an Aśvaśāla special care is to be taken regarding its placing in such a manner in the vicinity of the royal palace, that at the time of coming out of the stable, the horses should occupy the left side of the king. It should be in the South of the Queen’s chamber and when the king enters there, neighing should be heard on the right Aśvaśālas should be built architecturally beautiful with the application of the corridors, windows, arches, Kuḍyas and Nāgadantas. Its gates should be placed either towards, the East or towards the North. Aśvaśālā, according to the Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra, is a beautiful specimen of wooden architecture, in which all its component parts, beams, windows, arches, shutters, pillars, etc., etc. are all made of wood in superior craftmanship.

Then the author proceeds with the details of the several establishments of the shed, such as Yavasthāna (grass-pot) Khādana-koṣṭha (what we call Nānda). Details of the probing of the horses are also given. It is enjoined that every season the stable for horses need be cleaned, the storage and collection of the implements in a horse-stable and other necessary articles are also enumerated.

Then follow the detailed rules of the bathing, clothing, worship and other daily routine of the horses. Again the rules regarding the fastening of the horses in the quarters of the respective directions are given. Particular rules are also given of the ailing horses and then housing etc. quite separately from the healthy ones for fear of the infection.

At the end of the chapter the necessary buildings of the Aśvaśāla are described and they are:—

1. Store House,
2. Laying-in-Chamber for she-horses.
3. Dispensary.
4. Veterinary hospital.

The particular directions regarding the placing of these four auxiliary members of the establishment are: they should not contain any śālā, though decorated with Kuḍyas, Prāgrīvas and arches.