The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s5.3

v1.c5.s5.3

The special sacredness of the maṇḍala of 64 squares is stressed in other texts: the ‘Vāstuvidhāna’ (IX. 2.) enjoins that the pedestal (pīṭha) or hearth (dhiṣṇya) for the worship of Vāstu (vāstupūjā) should have 64 squares, while in ch. X. 1-6 (ibid.) it is stated that the Vāstumaṇḍala in which is situated the body of the Vāstu-puruṣa should consist of 81 squares. This is corroborated, for instance, in the ‘Prayogapārijāta’ (chapter : Vāstu-homa, 1-3; p. 94). There the Vāstu of 64 squares is prescribed for the rites of initiation (dīkṣā), the installation of images, (pratiṣṭhā) and for sacrificial offerings (yāga) whereas it is said that the maṇḍala of Vāstu has 81 squares.