Chettinad Houses

CHETTINAD HOUSES

Chettinad houses are traditional houses in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Sivagangai district around Karaikudi and some parts of Pudukkottai district.

Generally, Chettinadu houses are designed in such a way that Navagraha Sakthi and Panchabhutha Shakthi are available in their houses.

Chettinad Architecture

Built in the 18th Century, 19th Century and early 20th centrury, these Chettinad houses are world renowned for their architecture. There are also houses with 1000 windows. The Nagaraththars used to hold their family functions in their houses themselves. So their houses are like big halls. Architects, experts and researchers from different countries are studying this architecture.

1. Structures of Houses

These Chettinad houses are built on one acre or two acre plot. The house is built so grandly that the front door faces one street and the back door faces another. The floors of the houses are built upto five feet above the street. In the middle of the houses, large open courtyard are found. These open spaces bring air and light into the houses. The front doors of the houses, the back doors of the houses and other rooms will be arriving in these open spaces. The front and back doors are on the same lines. If someone looks from the back door, he can see who is at the front door. The other rooms also come into these spaces.

The Five Parts of Houses

Chettinad houses are divided into five sections.

First Section : Reception

Second Section : Valavu (Utilization section) consisting Murtam and rooms.

Third Section: Dining Section (Irandankattu)

Fourth Section: Kitchen Section

Fifth Section: At the end is the garden.

Houses are constructed as cited above. All the houses are generally built facing east or west direction.

2. Panchabhutha Sakthi or Vastu Sastra

Vasthu Sastra is the arrangement of the Panchabhutha Sakthi (earth, water, fire, air, atmosphere) in the house in a way that brings together the natural resources. Man cannot survive without these. The Valavu part in chettinad houses brings these five forces together in equal measure and makes the people living there lead a healthy life.

1. Land

The valavu part in the chettinad house is covered with red sand tiles that abserb water during the rainy season. While walking, the electromagnetic force of the earth passes through the feet and it is good for our body.

2. Water

During the rainy season, the water falling from the houses falls into the open space of the reservoir and into the outdoor well. They collected water from Urani in the middle of the town, Kanmai outside the town, pond, puddle and lake made a way to live without shortage of water.

3. Fire (Heat)

No life can live on the earth without sunlight and heat. Chettinad houses are designed to allow sunlight to enter the house during the day. The benefits are noted below.

(i) The oxygen concentration for breathing will increase.

(ii) Increases vitamin D in the body.

(iii) The food items in the rooms of the house will not spoil.

4. Air

Chettinad houses were built by the Nagarathars considering that the wind should blow freely inside the house. Calculations such as Keela Mela Brahma Sutra, then Vadal Brahma Sutra play an important role in this. The hot air that entered the house during the day, leave in the evening and give way to cool, humid air at night.

5. Atmosphere

The moon in the sky and the light of the stars enter directly inside the house during the night through the valavu in the house and protect us.

3. Chettinadu Houses in Navagraha System

The Chettinadu houses are constructed according to the Navagraha system. In the universe, the sun is at the centre and the planets rotate it. Similar to that, the valavu of the house and the rooms surrounding it have been built as per the Navagraha benefits. Chettinad houses are built keeping in mind the idea that according to the directions of the existence of Navagrahas, at which places things should be kept and where it will multiply.

Teak Pillars

There are many pillars throughout the house. These pillars are made of Burma teak. It is said that these long teak trees were floated in the ocean by the Chettiyars of Nattukkottai when they were in Burma. They tied the teak trees to the ships with chains and brought through the port of Nagapattinam. The front house is made in such a way that it welcomes everyone. There is a spacious courtyard on either side of the entrance door of the house. It has majestic wooden pillars. The front door and the stage have delicate wood carvings.

The entrance of the Chettinad house is designed to surprise us. The exquisite carvings on the doors and on the pedestals are amazing. The 16th and 17th Century sculptural structures of the Nayak period are also a model for the artists of Chettinad. Especially, the doors here are carved with images of gods and goddesses as seen in temples. This has become a cultural symbol.

Idols of deities have been carved on the top of the stage (Nilai). The front of the house is called pattalai (Thinnai). Beyond pattalai comes valavu (courtyard). The house has large teak doors, wooden bureaus, swings and other wood works. Scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharatha are carved in a row at various places.

The houses have atleast thirty rooms. Some houses like Kanadukathan Palace have more rooms than that. These houses have been painted with attractive colours like green, yellow, red, etc.,

Nowadays, some of the houses are slightly modified and used as star hotels.

4. Science and Technology

It is said that the walls of Chettinad houses are built with a mixture of lime, gall-nuts, karuppatti mixed with egg white. As it is built without any chemical compounds, it is comfortable here, even though it is very hot outside. Unlike normal houses, these Chettinad houses are not whitewashed every year. The construction is such that, it is not required. Eggshells are mixed with lime to paint the walls. It keeps the house cool.

Rainwater Harvesting

As early as the 18th Century, rain water falling into the house was collected and stored through a canal to the public tank in the town.

Family Partition Issues

It is settled by talking to the relatives. They don't go to the registrar's office and register their deeds. They write internal documents and keep them. Accordingly, one room on the ground floor of a house is for one person. Siblings share the upstairs room directly above. Only in living rooms and kitchens divisions are made and the middle ground is common to all.