The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s5.2

v1.c5.s5.2

⁶⁹ The ‘Bṛhat-Saṃhitā’, LII. 73, commentary, points out an exception to the rules of ancient Ācāryas: Viśvakarman has not explicitly spoken of the maṇḍala of 64 squares (he includes it in that of 81 squares; in the opinion of Utpala). ⁷⁰ Also ‘Matsya Purāṇa’, ch. CCLIII, 47: “Brahmā has enjoined the maṇḍala of 64 squares for Prāsādas”; ‘Bhaviṣya Purāṇa’, ch. CXXX. 17: “The place of the temple should be divided into 64 squares”. ‘Agnipurāṇa’, ch. XCIII. 1: “After having laid down the cords for the Prāsāda make the Vāstumaṇḍala (the text has ‘Vāstumaṇḍapa’) of 64 squares. In house and city (nagara) one should worship in 81 squares”. ‘Śāradātilaka’, III. 7, comm.: (a) 64 squares for the Prāsāda ; (b) 81 for a house, quoting (a) Somaśambhu, (b) ‘Mahākapila-pañcarātra’; nevertheless the ‘Matsya Purāṇa’ describes in the first place the Vāstupuruṣa-maṇḍala of 81 squares (ch. CCLIII. 19; ch. CCLXVIII); also the ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’, LII. 42-55. ⁷¹ Four factors: (1) temple, (2) non-temple, and (3) Brāhmaṇas and (4) Kings-Kṣatriyas are referred to in this passage, crosswise; its meaning is unmistakable.