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SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN EARLY TIMES WERE

DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAJOR CASTES

BRAHMINS

Under the Indiancaste system,a Brahmin is a member

of the highest caste.

Priests and scholars are classified as Brahmins, and

members of this caste have traditionally been figures of

venera tion and respect.

Brahmins were highly educated and thus able to

interpret the will of the gods accurately.

BR HMIN DWELLING Brahmin houses differ slightly in style, technique

and materials, depending on their location.

They are almost always connected by a common

wall and tend to be narrow in width and very

long.

They are often without an interior courtyard, but

have open spaces in the back.

Light and air frequently comes from a clerestory

which substitutes for the open courtyard in the

flat-roofed houses.

Sign of same community and that they can eat

together.

VEDIC PERIOD

Nandyavarta

o This plan is commonly used for the construction of

towns and not for villages.

o It is generally adopted for thesites either circular or

square in shape.

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o The streets run parallel to the central adjoining streets with the temple of the

presiding deity inthe center of the town.o The blocks were detachable.

o They had internaland external open area with alinda.

o Plan resembles the symbol of swastika

o Gaushala all around the house

Chaturmukha

o This is an L shaped plan in which shalas are interconnected .

o The outer wall was protected by plinth.

o The outer wall had small fenestrations

o It had semicovered area known as YAGYASHALA for yagya to take place

KSHTRIYA

The Kshatriya caste is the second top most caste in

the caste system in India.

Under the Hindu caste system, a Kshatriya is a ruler

or warrior.

Members of the Kshatriya caste have held power for

centuries in India.

The word Kshatriya is derived from the words forpower and ruler.

Members of this caste have traditionally ruled over

communities and Indian society.

KSHTRIY DWELLINGS Houses with large span and facilities.

They basically lived in palaces.

VEDIC PERIOD

Nandyavatrao Square plans with shalas around the courtyard.

o Inner courtyard and outer open spaces with alinda.

o Gaushala all around the house.

Maulibhardra

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o Concept of V shaped courtyards with shalas all around and a pillared veranda.

o Had alinda only at the entrance.

VAISHYAS

The Vaishya are the third of four castes in Indiansociety.

Traditionally, they have composedthemerchantclass, and they have also providedfor Indian society in general through alms givingand the construction of temples, hospitals, andother public facilities.

Members of the Vaishya have traditionally been in

an awkward position in society, since they areamong the lower ranking of the castes, yet theyform a crucial part of society.

The word Vaishya is derived from a word whichmeans to live, and the caste was originallyfocused on farming, agriculture, and trading.

VEDI PERIODSarvatobhadras

o This type of town plan is applicable to larger villages

and towns, which have to be constructed on a

squaresite.

o According to this plan, the whole town should be

fully occupied by houses of various descriptions and

inhabited by all classes of people.

o The temple dominates the village.o Houses built on the concept of square shaped plans

with courtyard.

o Detached shalas.

o Plinth protecting outer walls.

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SHUDRAS

Under the Hindu caste system, the shudras are

the lowest and largest caste.

Traditionally, shudras have worked in service, as

slaves or practitioners of unskilled trades.

members of this caste are not as maligned as

Dalits or untouchables, they still face a great deal

ofdiscriminationfrom members of higher castes.

The Shudra have classically lived lives of service.

Slaves were often classified as Shudra, as were

cobblers, blacksmiths, maids, cooks, and so

forth.

They have typically not been accorded the same

rights as higher castes, forced to use differenttemples and public facilities.

VEDI PERIODDandakaso These were lower class houses

o They had interconnected shalas

o First, they were unicelular but later they became multi

cellular.

o Small fenestrations provided on outer walls.

AT PRESENT INDIAN SOCIETY IS DIVIDED INTO

THREE DIFFERENT CLASSES

UPPER CLASS

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The upper classin modern societies is often

considered as thewealthiest members of

society, who also wield the greatestpolitical

power.

Individuals in the upper class have higher

levels of disposable income.

They have a very lavish lifestyle.

Members of the upper class are typically knowledgeable and have been

educated in "elite"settings. Wealthy parents go above and beyond to ensure

their children will also be a member of the upper class when they grow up. They

have more education facilities.

They live in luxurious bunglows.

They require a large spaces to satisfy their needs.

MIDDLE CLASS

People belonging to the middle class enjoy very simple life with adequate amount

of income. They live a very normal life with less needs than the upper class and dont have a

very high standard of livings.

They have normal wages which could only satisfy their needs.

They live in spaces like apartments and flats as they have less needs.

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LOWER CLASS

People in lower class belongs to a verypoor family.

People suffer irregular employment.

They dont have reputed jobs and dont

have any job security.

Their income is very low and they

receive lower wages. They dont have proper dwellings.

They live in huts and thatch. Many of

them live on roads and footpath.

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HOW SOCI L

STRUCTURE INFLUENCEDWELLING FORMS

SUBMMITED BY:

MOHIT GUPTA

II YEAR B