Town Planning in Ancient India c16.16

c16.16

In the village or the town the various gods were enshrined according to some scheme. The scheme of the Agni Purāṇa runs as follows:— "The phallic emblems belonging to the *chala* or removable class should be installed in temples situated at the eastern quarter of a city. The images of Lakshmī and Vaiśravaṇa should be established at each side of the eastern gate; and the temples of gods established on the western side of a city, should face the east, looking on the two above-said images. In the east or the south, the divine edifices should face the west and the north respectively. The images of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Īśa and other gods should be installed in a city, for the protection of and as the guardian deities of the latter." The Agni Purāṇa then proceeds to cite the evil consequences accruing from absence of divine installations in the city: "A city, village, fortress, or a house not having tutelary deity of its own, is devoured by the Pićāśas, and becomes infested with fell diseases or pestilences." The blessings that are due to the divine images raised in the city are as follows: "A city or a village etc. protected by a deity, becomes thriving and prosperous; and ensures victory, enjoyments of earthly good and finally salvation to its inhabitants."¹