The Hindu Temple v1.c7.s2.23

v1.c7.s2.23

the earth and the tree from the forest and its living context, with expiation and apology for his interference, he takes on himself the responsibility for giving them appropriate use in the new context. This is to set up the temple as an image of the Puruṣa and as His dwelling. The natural connection has been severed, the earth has been burnt, the stone has been cut, the tree has been felled and they arise as the temple and its parts. Their texture survives and it is given consideration by the traditional and hereditary craftsman. It would, however, amount to a retrogression from the state of grace into the state of nature were one to expect that the ‘material’ would guide the builder. On the contrary, brick and stone alike, or in combination, may disappear under a coating of plaster, which might partly have been coloured too.⁸³