Town Planning in Ancient India c12.s2.21

c12.s2.21

Then the distribution of sites is dwelt upon. On all sides of the village, as for instance, in the Ārya and other directions, even in the outskirts of it, should be designed and distributed the temples of Viṣhṇu and His various manifestations. In the round containing the plot of Indra, the shrine of Viṣhṇu is erected in the Rākshasa plot. Śrīkara is located in the east, while Nārāyaṇa in the south or north and Keśava on the north. Images of Viṣhṇu should be established in desirable number in the east and the north, while Nṛsiṃha should be enshrined in the south-west or the north-east. Viṣhṇu should face the village, while Narasimha should have his face turned away from it. Lakshmi and Nrsimha should generally face the village, but in the divisions belonging to Rudra and Rudrajaya, Indra and Indrajaya, Apa and Apavatsa, Savindra, Isa, Jayanta, or Parjanya, the latter should have its back turned upon the village. Siva, either in the east or in the west should face the village and in the case of other gods, there is no such hard and fast rule as above. Within the village walls, in the plot consecrated either to Pitrs or to Dauvarika, is to be the shrine to Subrahmanya; or in those quarters may be established the mote-halls of Jainas or Bauddhas. Vainayaka's shrines may be located in all the eight directions. The temple of Sarasvati should be constructed in the plots of Mukhya or Bhallata, while that of Lakshmi in those of Aditi or Mrga. Without and close by the gates of the village should be established the shrine of Bhairava to guard the village or it may be on the street in the parts belonging to Rakshasa or Pushpadanta. Beyond the village pallisades towards, the divisions apportioned to Soma, the temple of Kali should be located. About a kros (roughly two miles) away from the village, either in the east, or in the north, the quarters of the Candalas should be raised and about ten daṇḍas to the north of the village, is to be placed the cremation ground.