The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s2.7

v1.c5.s2.7

²³ The 8 Vāstupuruṣas are called by the following names in the ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’, commentary of the 10th century, and the ‘Vāsturājavallabha’ of the 15th century: Wilderness or Crow, Flag, Crow or Smoke, Lion, Dog, Bull, Monkey and Elephant. These are place marks indicative of the favourable potencies or the auspiciousness of a particular direction. They represent a chthonic correspondence to the eight directions of space and belong to a tradition different from that of the one and comprehensive Vāstupuruṣa, in whose diagram they come to have their place. Utpala speaks about them as forming part of the knowledge of ‘other Ācāryas’ then Varāhamihira.