Terminologies

Land related terminologies

Sr. No.

Term in Devanagari

Term in Roman

Meaning

Description

1

मृत्तिका/ मृद्

Mrittika 

Soil 

A land full of trees with moist soil is recommended for settlements. Sandy soils are to be avoided.

2

हस्तिवनोपेता 

Hastivanopeta 

Land surrounded by mountains and forests having elephants thus enhancing the king's army 

This is one of the sixteen types of lands mentioned in the text that are classified on the basis of their qualities and benefits they bestow to the residents. This land is important from defence point of view. 

Other names of this land are Hasti-vanaashritaa or Hasti-vanavati.

3

अम्बु / मृद्

Ambu 

Water 

A land with plenty of water sources is recommended for settlements. It is also said if a site for a new town has plenty of water bodies in the South, it is recommended. 

4

इरिण 

Irin 

Salty and barren soil, desert

Lands with such soils are to be avoided for settlements. It can be said thus, that Jaangal region as described in the text is not very suitable for suitable new settlements. 

5

कण्टक / मृद्

Kantak 

Thorn 

Jaangal has short and thorny trees. Land with thorny trees and thorns are supposed to be avoided for settlements. It can thus be said, settlements are based avoided in Jaangal due to harsh conditions. 

6

प्लव 

Plava 

Slope 

Lands sloping towards North or North East are recommended. Land with such slope absorb less heat of the harsh South and South-West sun which is a good thing for tropical climate. Lands with slopes on all sides are also recommmended in the text as they are they are easier to defend.

7

कलधौत / मृद्

Kaldhaut 

Bullion ie. gold and silver

If a land is rich in such metals, it is recommended for settlements.

The terms mentioned above appear in the 8th chapter of Samarangana Sutradhara, a book on architecture and town planning by the scholar king Raja Bhoj of Malwa from the Paramara dynasty. The chapter deals with land classification, site selection for towns and houses, soil testing, etc. Different types of lands are mentioned with different types of flora and fauna, topography and based on this, recommendations are made for selection and avoidance of these lands for new settlements.

The land classification and selection methods are unique from modern methods in following ways:

It is interesting to note that lands are classified on a regional level in three categories as follows which, to a certain extent, can be related to different ecosystems like deserts, wetlands, etc.

Regional Classification of land

Jaangal

It is characterized by scanty water sources, sandy & black soil with hot, dry and fierce winds. It has short and thorny trees. From various other Shlokas in the same chapter, it is apparent that such lands are to be avoided for settlements. It is contradictory, for a land with desert-like description to have sandy & black soil.

Image credits: CIKS-TP

Anup

Anup has characteristics of a wetland or a land with alluvial soil in a river basin. It is described to have plenty of water including ground water at shallow depths. It has tall, sappy/ sticky trees and has an abundance of fishes. The soil is moist and sticky unlike Jaangal and the climate is cold.


Image credits: CIKS-TP

Sadharan

Sadharan land has characteristics of both these types with a climate that is neither too hot nor too cold. 

Image credits: CIKS-TP