The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s7.t3: C. Proportionate width of lines and intersections.
The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s7.t3
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C. Proportionate width of lines and intersections.
v1.c5.s7.t3.1
| | Bṛhat Saṃhitā | Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra | Vāstuvidyā, VI. 25-26 |
| **Width of :** | **In a plan of 81 squares** | **In a plan of 64 squares** | **In a plan of 64, 81, 100 squares** |
| **Diagonal** | 1/24 pada | main diagonal : 1/16 pada lesser diagonal : 1/12 pada | |
| **Orthogonal (Madhya-sūtras, in V. V.)** | 1/16 pada | Border and middle lines : 1/10, the other orthogonals 1/8 pada | 1/16, 1/12, 1/8 pada |
| **Marma** | 1/8 pada | | |
| **Sandhi** | 1 Bālāgra | | |
| **Sandhis of ‘aṅgas’** | 1/2 Bālāgra | | |
v1.c5.s7.t3.2
While the position of the main diagonals is necessarily always one and the same, from the north-east to the south-west and from the south-east to the northwest, there are differences in the number and position of the lesser diagonals. As a rule they are drawn in the square of 81 compartments, across the third and sixth compartment on each side; altogether four lesser diagonals are thus drawn, or else in later texts (‘Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra’, XI. 26-29) eight diagonals are drawn. In the 64 compartments only 4 of the lesser diagonals are drawn (‘Vāstuvidyā’, VI. 25-26).
v1.c5.s7.t3.3
The ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’, LII. 61, gives the names of the divinities who occupy the squares in the border of the mandala which are connected by the diagonals. They extend from Vitatha to Śoṣa, Mukhya to Bhṛśa, Jayanta to Bhṛṅgarāja and Aditi to Sugriva (Figure on p. 32). The text does not say which of the two corners of the respective squares, on the border line, these oblique lines connect; if it is assumed that the lines are drawn from the meeting of each of the four sides with the third perpendicular on each side, including the border line, the rule holds good for the maṇḍala of 64 and of 81 squares. The ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’ gives no special indications concerning the square of 64 compartments. If however, the meeting points of each fourth perpendicular line with the respective side line are the points of departure of the diagonals, the names of the divinities must be different in the maṇḍala of 64 squares. This is so in the ‘Vāstuvidyā’ where the names of the divinities are given through whose plots the lines pass from the 4th point of junction on each side. They are: Bṛhatkṣata to Varuṇa, Bhallāṭa Āditya, Indra to Yama, and Candra to Puṣpadanta.
v1.c5.s7.t3.4
A widely used manual, the ‘Viśvakarmavidyāprakāśa’ (83-85) explaining the maṇḍala of 64 squares, enumerates the series of oblique lines from Vitatha to Śoṣa, etc., and supports the statement of Varāhamihira. The difference is that in the texts where the lines are to be drawn from the third point of juncture, the crossing of the diagonals is nearer to the centre than when the oblique lines are drawn from the fourth point of juncture, on each outline. The 9 specially vulnerable points (atimarma) of the ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’ fall into the Brahmasthāna and immediately around it.
v1.c5.s7.t3.5
If the corners of the Brahmasthāna are ‘mahāmarma’ the diagonals would have to be drawn from the crossing of the 3rd perpendicular and the outline, in the square of 64 parts; and from the crossing of the 4th perpendicular and the outline in the square of 81 parts. If this is the meaning, the indications of the ‘Bṛhat Saṃhitā’ mean: In a square of 64 parts the diagonals have to be drawn from the crossing of the third line (perpendicular) with the side line. In a square of 81 parts, the diagonals have to be drawn from the crossing of the fourth perpendicular line with the side line. The names of the plots of the divinities remain the same, but the opposite corners are referred to in each case, the one nearer to the corner in the maṇḍala of 64 squares, the one away from the corner in that of 81 plots.²⁴
v1.c5.s7.t3.6
²⁴ The diagonals in these 2 cases then would have to be drawn at a distance of the diagonal of one small square in the 64 plot; and of 1½ small squares in the 81 plot; JISOA, l. c., p. 184. The same points of crossing, however, are meant as starting points of the diagonals, in the two types of plans, by the ‘Vāstuvidyā’, l.c., where the 4th crossing from the corners, is the point of departure of the diagonals, in the maṇḍala of 64 and of 81 squares.
v1.c5.s7.t3.7
These complexities brought about by the alternate use of the maṇḍalas of 64 and 81 squares, are increased by the reference of the Marmas to the ‘body’ of the Vāstupuruṣa. They are said to be the head, face, heart, etc. of the Vāstupuruṣa in the plan of 64 squares. The ‘Vāstu-Vidyā’ gives the names of the divinities where his head, face, etc., come to lie. This distributes the Mahāmarmas between the North-East and the Centre and not around the Centre, as the Vāstupuruṣa should lie with his head in the East in the maṇḍala of 64 squares. Yet the texts quoted put his head in the North-East, a position which the Vāstupuruṣa should occupy in a square of 81 parts. These various assimilations and combinations however are unanimous in their intention. It aims at linking up the building and the plan in which is laid out its meaning. The building draws its power from the Vāstupuruṣa who lies at its base and converts, by his name and presence the Plan of Existence (vāstumaṇḍala) into the shape of the Puruṣa, in whose likeness the temple is set up.⁹⁵
v1.c5.s7.t3.8
⁹⁵ ‘Agnipurāṇa’, ch. LXI. 11, etc. ; the Prāsāda as Puruṣa ; ‘Viṣṇusaṃhitā’, XIII. 60-70 ; see also Parts V and VIII.
Cites (4)
- Agnipurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra — Bhoja, Sanskrit
- Bṛhatsaṃhitā — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit
- Viṣṇusaṃhitā — Sanskrit