The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s5.17

v1.c5.s5.17

⁷⁸ Maṇḍūka is the generally accepted name. The ‘Mayamata’ (VII. 57) says: The Sthaṇḍila (a piece of ground, levelled, squared and prepared for a sacrifice ; sacrificial ground), called Maṇḍūka, has 64 squares (pada). The ‘Śaivabhūṣaṇam’, p. 140 employs the term Bhekapada for the diagram of 64 squares. Bheka means ‘frog’; so does Maṇḍūka. The association is that of sitting motionless like a frog, a posture adopted in Maṇḍūka-yoga. The Primeval Frog, Mahā-maṇḍūka is the Great Energy which ultimately supports Śeṣa, the Remainder, the world serpent on whom rests the universe. ‘Viṣṇudharmottara’, II. ch. XXIX. 35; Ajira means enclosed space; another meaning of the word is frog; cf. ‘Śāradātilaka’, III. 8. Comm.