Ancient Indian Botany

1. A civil engineer has to use different building materials including wood.
 The quality and durability of the structure depends upon
the wood used.
 The life of the structure is also affected by trees grown in
its vicinity.
 Hence a civil engineer should have some basic
knowledge about botany.

2. This Presentation is based on an article
Botany of Ancient India
by K.V. Vaze, published in Vedic Magazine Lahore
(November 1922, pages 268 – 282)
K.V.Vaze-Pioneering Author of books and articles on
“Science & Technology of Ancient India
Presentation by
Dr. A.S. Nene

3. Environment means neighborhood of

4. Living Things
• Astrot - things which have no circulation
• Sastrot - things which have circulation
Sastrot things
• Arwakstrota (Things having downward circulation)
• Titakastrota (Things having slant circulation)
• Utstrota (Things having upward circulation)
Utstrota or plant life

5. Living Things

6. Definition of Botany

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

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

12. Indian Botanical Classification

13. 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

14. 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)

15. Forbidden Trees

16. Unsuitable Trees

17. 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.

18. Tree Recommended near Habitat

19. Trees permitted to grow near Habitat

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Male Tree Female Tree

23. Hard wood Trees

24. 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.

25. Directional suitability of Trees

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. Selection of Wood

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

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

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

32. 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.

33. 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.

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

35. 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.

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

37. References from Ancient Indian Literature
Agastsamhita Bhrugusamhita Bruhatsamhita Geeta
Kashyapa Manushyalaya Mayamat Panini
Shilpa chandrika
Parashariya Paraskar Rajavallabha Sakaladhikara
krushi Gruhyasutra
Shatapath Shilpadeepak Sukhanand Taitariya
Bramhana Vastu Bramhana
Vastu Vidya Yogavashishta Yuktikalpataru

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