Manasara Series (I. A Dictionary of Hindu Architecture; II. Indian Architecture according to Manasara-Shilpashastra; III. Manasara on Architecture and Sculpture: Sanskrit Text; IV. Architecture of Manasara: Translation; V. Architecture of Manasara: Illustrations; VI. Hindu Architecture in India and Abroad; VII. An Encyclopaedia of Hindu Architecture) v4.c30.s1.315

v4.c30.s1.315

² Each of these twenty-four deities, comprising eight in the interior block around the Brahmā plots and sixteen in the exterior block, is apparently intended to be assigned to half-a-plot (see plate, under chapter VII, figure 4). In the *Śilpa-ratna* (chapter VI, 27—29) Brahmā is placed on the central point and is not assigned to any plot; eight deities are assigned to the four central plots, similarly eight deities are assigned to the four plots in the four corners, and remaining eight plots are assigned to the remaining eight deities. In the *Mayamata* (chapter VII, 25—27) the allocation of the deities is not specified: it is simply stated (VII, 25) that twenty-five deities are assigned to the sixteen plots. The *Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra* (chapter XII, 3—14) has obviously confused the whole plan: it appears that Brahmā is assigned to four plots; Aryaman, Vivasvat, Mitra and Bhūdhara to half-a-plot each; eight other deities beginning with Savitra and ending with Āpavatsa are also given a half-plot each; another eight deities are given one plot each; yet another set of eight deities beginning with Parjanya and ending with Aditi are given a half-plot each: this would already make twenty-nine deities and twenty-two plots, although there can be only sixteen plots (and twenty-five deities); again the outside deities from Jayanta to Charaka are given a half-plot each.