The Hindu Temple v1.c6.s1.8

v1.c6.s1.8

The Fire altar is oriented towards the East, the direction of the sunrise, the ever new beginning. It is piled up, a square to start with, facing the four regions and the one above. They are bodily parts of Prajāpati, the year.¹¹ The altar is built of bricks. They are Agni's limbs, his joints (Ś.B. VI. 1. 2. 31). Similarly, the area between the Āhavanīya and Gārhapatya altar has two 'spines' (Ś.B. VII. 1. 2. 14), the middle lines from East to West (the prācī which is the 'pṛṣthyā', Ś.B. III. 5. 1. 9) and the other from South to North. When Agni is laid down as the Gārhapatya hearth, the four bricks in the middle, are the body. Two at the back are added: these are the thighs and two in front, the arms; where the body is that (includes) the head (Ś.B. VII. 1. 1. 18).¹²