Sacred geometry and cosmology are so closely related to India’s city designs that such a practice is an integral part of urban design history dating back thousands of years. Indian cities, in the past, along with most of the ancient temples and geographical regions, were designed as per some sort of geometrically aligned humanly created entity with the cosmos. Sacred geometry incorporated in Indian cities’ layouts reveals deeper contact with the world around, cosmos, and beliefs of the spiritual aspects. Such physical contact with cosmos indeed originates from the philosophical concepts that are rooted in ancient science Vastu Shastra and even wider horizons of Hindu cosmology.
The Effect of Vastu Shastra
One of the primary governing systems that control the designs of cities and structures within India is ‘Vastu Shastra’, which is an ancient Indian science of architecture dictating how buildings, cities, and even the whole settlements should be made. The basis of this system is on the belief that the arrangement of space must match with the forces of nature upon Earth and in the universe. Like sacred geometry, Vastu Shastra makes use of mathematical and geometrical principles in the design of not just functional useful space but also as a space that will enhance the well-being and spiritual lives of those dwelling within it.
The five elements, according to Vastu Shastra, rule the universe: “earth (prithivi)”, ”water (jal)”, “fire (agni)”, “air (vaayu)”, and “space (akasha)”. The flow of these elements needs to direct the positioning and orientation of buildings in a city so that nature and the built environment can harmonize together. Geometric forms, such as squares and rectangles, form the base of Vastu Shastra since they represent stability and balance.
A remarkable feature of Vastu Shastra is that it makes use of a grid system, called the “Vastu Purusha Mandala”-the foundational layout that houses buildings and cities alike. The grid is square in form, divided into smaller squares, where every square controls a certain quality of the space such as health and wealth to spirituality and creativity. This grid can be applied in city planning and guides the orientation of streets, markets, residential areas, and temples with regard to the cardinal directions, celestial objects, and the movement of planets.
Ancient Indian Cities and Sacred Geometry
Most of the time, old Indian cities were to be designed keeping in line with the cosmic forces according to these sacred geometrical principles. In themselves, the forms they took to create this harmony embodied the principles at spatial levels ranging from the physical and other abstract spatial arrangements. An entity that was to be a city wasn’t only to put spaces into being but rather symbolized through the alignments between such spaces of this mundane world and the divine sphere itself to symbolize acts of sacred design.
- The City of Mohenjo-Daro (Indus Valley Civilization)
Actually one of the first and ancient examples of city planning that exist is dating around 2500 BCE belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization. Indeed, formalized Vastu Shastra is supposed to have developed after the Indus Valley Civilization. Still, its cities, namely, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, represent an unbelievable sense of order and alignment. The archeological evidence shows the grid-like layout of these cities where the streets go perpendicular to each other and houses with some fixed measurement.
The layout of Mohenjo-Daro, in particular, suggests the early use of geometric principles, where streets are aligned by right angles and seem to be placed with solar and wind directions in mind. Therefore, there is an essential, intrinsic connection to nature in all its forms. This means alignment to the elements and forces in the natural world may imply that, even though this relationship does not relate explicitly to Vastu Shastra, the cosmological perspective guides its development.
- Jaipur: The City of Geometry
One of the most famous examples of sacred geometry in city planning is the Indian city of ‘Jaipur’, the capital of Rajasthan, planned by the architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya in the 18th century. Jaipur’s planning is based on Vastu Shastra principles and is carefully designed to resonate with cosmic and earthly forces. The city has been constructed from streets and buildings in shapes like rectangles and squares, symbolic of stability and harmony. Divided into nine blocks made up of rectangles each symbolized with one of the nine planetary deities, in accordance with Hindu cosmology.
In fact, it has an astronomical observatory called ‘Jantar Mantar’, again signifying a city’s relation with the movements of celestial and cosmic alignments. The instruments were built by Maharaja Jai Singh II for the observatory. This again reflects the overall design philosophy of the city and its integration with sacred geometry reflects an ancient understanding of the interconnectedness of the universe, human beings, and the built environment.
- The Holy City of Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram is considered one of the seven Moksha-puris in Hinduism, and another example of Indian urban planning based on sacred geometry and cosmological principles. The city, being famous for its temples and religious significance, was designed strictly in accordance with Vastu Shastra principles. The temples of Kanchipuram were so placed that the sacred energy of the cosmos would flow harmoniously through the city.
The city’s streets and design are also oriented along cardinal directions to be in harmony with the forces of nature. Kanchipuram is thought to be an embodiment of the cosmos, and the central temple complex is thought to represent Mount Meru, which is the sacred mountain in Hindu cosmology that is supposed to be the center of the universe. Designed in conformity with cosmic principles, Kanchipuram was not only a city of material habitation but a spiritual center in consonance with the divine order.
Cosmology of Sacred Geometry in Indian Cities
Other than Vastu Shastra, cosmology has been intimately related to the design of cities in India. Hindu cosmology portrays the universe as a dynamic, interconnected web of energy and matter. This ancient Indian worldview commonly considered the cosmos as existing with several layers or planes – physical, spiritual and heaven. Indian city planning reflects this understanding by creating spaces that facilitate the flow of cosmic energy through the city, thus keeping in harmony the material and the spiritual worlds.
The holy city of ‘Varanasi’ is an example. The streets of Varanasi run parallel to the Ganges River. Streets have been designed here by keeping natural water flows and spirituality associated with them in mind. The arrangement of the city’s temples, ghats, and roads helps a pilgrim trace spiritual lineages flowing through the city towards God which is, of course, what the whole idea is according to Hindu vision-to take the view of a total city as a miniature universe.
Conclusion: Revival of Sacred Geometry in Contemporary India through New Cities, Townships, and Residential Buildings
Sacred geometry and Vastu Shastra usage has now become a common phenomenon even in the planning of the newly developed cities, townships, and even residential buildings in contemporary India. Modern architects and city planners are incorporating Vastu Shastra, along with other ancient design principles, into the planning of spaces that improve health and wellness while promoting alignment with the spirit. Most new urban developments in India, especially those geared toward combining modern life with a strong sense of tradition, incorporate such principles to keep cities both modern and in tune with the cosmos.
Along with the philosophies of Vastu Shastra, most contemporary urbanists take cues from ‘sustainable architecture’ and ‘ecological urbanism, which essentially embody ancient Indian philosophies of harmonization and balance of nature with human life. Here, the spaces are designed in an experimental township like “Auroville”, located in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, in such a way that the unity of all forms of life is reflected within it and through this built space, an experience of a spiritual life can be perceived.
Sacred geometry and cosmology have dominated Indian cities for centuries. From the grid patterns of the ancient cities such as Mohenjo-Daro to the spiritual orientation in the design of Jaipur, it is a representation of the connection between human life, nature, and cosmos through the incorporation of geometric and cosmic principles in planning. Vastu Shastra, along with the cosmology of Hinduism, has highly contributed to city-making. They ensured that cities are not just spaces, but also they align with the divine. Until today, these principles remain useful in designing a modern city, proving that sacred geometry is something that transcends time and is relevant for Indian urban design.
