The Hindu Temple v1.c7.s1.78

v1.c7.s1.78

In the middle of the foundation pit⁴⁵ and after threefourth of it has been filled, the Ādhāraśilā is laid down. According to the 'Tantrasamuccaya' I. ch. I. 74-89, and the 'Śilparatna', X. 6-13, a treasure jar (nidhikalaśa)⁴⁶ made of stone or copper is placed on the Ādhāraśilā; on the jar a stone lotus is placed, on the stone lotus a stone tortoise, on the stone tortoise a silver lotus and on it a silver tortoise, on the silver tortoise a gold lotus and on it a gold tortoise. From there a funnel shaped tube, the Yoganāla, made of copper leads up to the plinth (janman; 'Śilparatna', 1. c.) or to its lowermost moulding (upāna; 'Tantrasamuccaya', 1.c.). In the treasure jar is invoked Bhuvaneśī as Greatest Śakti, Holder of the Āsana, the seat or foundation of the temple.⁴⁷ The several symbols strung together in the vertical direction illustrate the meaning expressed in words : the sun strings these worlds to himself on a thread of his rays (Ś.B. VII. 3. 2. 13). The hierarchy of existence is shown here by the different substances of the symbolic forms. Stone, here is the last support, the rock bottom on which is firmly established the vertical order. The prototype of this kind of vertical symbolism was built into the Fire Altar (Ś.B. VI. 2. 3. 1-5).⁴⁸ In Hindu inward worship (antaryāga, inner sacrifice) this vertical symbolism is present in the meditation called Pīṭhapūjā, the worship of the ‘basis’ or ‘support’.⁴⁹