Matsya Purana 262: adhyāyaḥ 262

262.1

pīṭhikālakṣaṇavarṇanam.

Sûta said:—“Now I shall tell you about the pedestals of the different idols. The pedestal should be divided into 16 parts.—1

262.2

sūta uvāca.
pīṭhikālakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ.
pīṭhocchrāyaṃ yathāvacca bhāgān ṣoḍaśa kārayet .. 262.1

262.3

bhūmāvekaḥ praviṣṭaḥ syāccaturbhirjagatī matā.
vṛtto bhāgastathaikaḥ syāt vṛtaḥ paṭalabhāgataḥ .. 262.2

The first part should be put underground. Above that, the earth should be taken in 4 parts. Afterwards the round part should be covered with a coating. Then the neck of the pedestal should be made in three parts and the throne should be made in the other three parts.

The next four parts are known as Jagatî, the next one part is termed Vṛitta, the next one is Paṭala or Vrîta, above it three parts are denominated Kaṇṭha, next two parts are named Ûrdhapaṭṭa, and the last part is Paṭṭikâ.—2-3

262.4

bhāgaistribhistathā kaṇṭhaḥ kaṇṭhapaṭṭastribhāgataḥ.
bhāgābhyāmūrdhvapaṭṭaśca śeṣabhāgena paṭṭikā .. 262.3

262.5

praviṣṭaṃ bhāgamekaikaṃ jagatī yāvadevatu.
nirgamastu punastasya yāvadvai śeṣapaṭṭikā .. 262.4

The first five parts up to Jagatî are imbedded within the earth, the other parts up to Paṭṭikâ are above the ground and on the uppermost part Paṭṭikâ, a passage is to be made for the outlet of water.—4

262.6

vārinirgamanārthantu tatra kāryyaḥ praṇālakaḥ.
pīṭhikānāntusarvāsāmetatsāmānyalakṣaṇam .. 262.5

This is the general characteristic of all the pedestals.—5

262.7

viśeṣān devatā bhedān śrṛṇudhvaṃ dvijasattamāḥ!.
sthaṇḍilā vātha vāpī vā yakṣī vedī ca maṇḍalā .. 262.6

The following are the ten different kinds of seats for different Devatas viz:—(1) Sthaṇḍilâ, (2) Vâpî, (3) Yakṣî, (4) Vedî, (5) Maṇḍalâ, (6) Pûrṇa chandrâ, (7) Vajrâ, (8) Padma, (9) Ardhaśaśi, (10) Trikoṇâ.—6-7 Sthaṇḍilâ is the one that is without any girdle or circular boundary and is square-shaped Vâpî has two girdles, Yakṣî has three girdles The Vedî is rectangular—8-9

262.8

pūrṇacandrā ca vajrā ca padmārdhaśaśinastathā.
trikoṇā daśamī tāsāṃ saṃsthānaṃ vā nibodhata .. 262.7

262.9

sthaṇḍilā caturasrā tu varjitā mekhalādibhiḥ.
vāpī dvimekhalā jñeyā yakṣī caiva trimekhalā .. 262.8

262.10

caturasrāyatā vedī na tāṃ liṅgeṣu yojayet.
maṇḍalāvartulāyātu mekhalābhirgaṇapriyā .. 262.9

262.11

raktā dvimekhalā madhye pūrṇacandrā tu sā bhavet.
mekhalātrayasaṃyuktā ṣar̤asrā vajrikā bhavet .. 262.10

Pūrṇachandrâ has two girdles variously coloured, Vajriṇî has six corners and three girdles—10

262.12

ṣoḍaśāstrā bhavetpadmā kiñciddhrasvā tu mūlataḥ.
tathaiva dhanuṣākārā sārddhacandrā praśasyate .. 262.11

Padmâ has sixteen corners and it is shorter below Ardhadaśî is like a bow—11

262.13

triśūlasadṛśī tadvat trikoṇāhyūrdhvato matā.
prāgudakpravaṇā tadvatpraśastā lakṣaṇānvitā .. 262.12

Trikoṇâ is triangular in shape like the upper part of a trident. The one that is lower towards the east and the north is said to be somewhat sloping, and extended and endowed with auspicious signs—12

262.14

pariveṣaṃ tribhāgena nirgamaṃ tatra kārayet.
vistāraṃ tatpramāṇañca mūlecāgre tatordhvataḥ .. 262.13

The three parts of the circumference should be outside and outlet for water should also be made there and at the base, front and top, there should be space equal to that amount and there a good outlet for water should be made, and half of the Phallus should be made thick—13-14

262.15

jalamārgaśca kartavyastribhāgena suśobhanaḥ.
liṅgasyārddhavibhāgena sthaulyena samadhiṣṭhitā .. 262.14

262.16

mekhalā tattribhāgena khātañcaiva pramāṇataḥ.
athavā pādahīnantu śobhanaṃ kārayetsadā .. 262.15

Then the girdle is to be made of a dimension of the three parts of the Liṅga or the girdle should be without any foot Only the prescribed limit should be dug or it should be artistically made without any division—15

262.17

uttarasthaṃ praṇālañca pramāṇādadhikārayet.
sthaṇḍilāyāmathārogyaṃ dhanaṃ dhānyañca puṣkalam .. 262.16

To the north a channel should be made a little bigger than the prescribed dimensions Sthaṇḍilâ is the giver of much health grain and wealth.—16

262.18

gopradā ca bhavedyakṣī vedī saṃpat pradā bhavet.
maṇḍalāyāṃ bhavetkīrtirvaradā pūrṇacandrikā .. 262.17

Yakṣî is the giver of cows, Vedî of prosperity, Maṇḍalâ of fame, Pūrṇachandrikâ good boons—17

262.19

āyuḥpradā bhavedvajrā padmā saubhāgyadā bhavet.
putrapradārdhacandrā syāt trikoṇaśatrunāśinī .. 262.18

Vrajâ, of life, Padmâ, of good luck, Ardhachandrâ, of sons, Trikoṇâ is the destroyer of enemies—18

262.20

devasya yajanārthantu pīṭhikā daśa kīrtitāḥ.
śaile śailamayī dadyāt pārthive pārthivī tathā .. 262.19

Ten such thrones have been described for Divine worship If the Devatâ be made of stone, then the pedestal is also to be made of stone If the Devatâ is made of earth then the pedestal is to be also made of earth, and if of wood, then the pedestal also of wood, and if the Deva be of a mixture, then the pedestal should be also of both mixed The persons desirous of auspicious results should not deviate from the above prescribed rules. Round the idol a big platform should be made and the Consort of the Lord should be located with His image—19-21

262.21

dāruje dārujāṃ kuryāt miśre miśrāṃ tathaiva ca.
nānyayonistu kartavyā sadā śubhaphalepsubhiḥ .. 262.20

262.22

arccāyāmā samandairghyaṃ liṅgāyāmasamantathā.
yasya devasya yā patnī tāṃ pīṭhe parikalpayet ..
etatsarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ samāsātpīṭhalakṣaṇam .. 262.21

Thus is described, in brief, about the pedestals