The Hindu Temple v1.c6.s5.5

v1.c6.s5.5

The centre is the place of Brahmā and 44 Devatās are grouped around it. The Brahmasthāna, the nucleus of the maṇḍala, invariably extends over four squares in the Maṇḍūka and over nine squares in the Paramāśayika plan. It is the root of each Vāstu while the other Devatās hold the ground around it and face it in two borders, of which the sum is three squares or units wide. Surrounding the immutable centre, the rule applicable to the triple rows around it is that 12 Devatās form its inner rim, the border of the Brahmasthāna, and 32 Devatās are stationed along the perimeter of the Vāstumandala and form its outer rim. The whole of the outermost row is invariably occupied by the 32 Devatās, who are therefore called Prākāra Devatās or Pada Devatās; enclosing the Vāstumandala, or occupying all the squares along its outline. 1 + 12 + 32 entities are thus stationed in the centre and around it. Their number and position give their meaning and form the body of the Vāstupuruṣa (Figs. 1-7).