The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s5.6

v1.c5.s5.6

The numbers 8 and 16 which form part of and produce the square of 64 Padas, refer to the Sun and Moon. During the 8 Praharas of the day, from sunrise to sunrise the sun enters one by one the 8 quarters (‘Viśvakarmavidyāprakāśa’, 126).⁷² Thus it can be said there are 8 suns. The 16 digits (kalā) of the moon represent the sum total of its phases. 16, the square of 4, is the perfect number and is embedded in the maṇḍala of 64 squares. But the square of 8 units has the wider significance.