Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

The Hindu Temple v1.c7.s3: The 'Germ' of the Temple

The Hindu Temple v1.c7.s3

Language
English

The 'Germ' of the Temple

v1.c7.s3.1

Before the temple in the likeness of the Puruṣa is constructed⁸⁴, the rite of Garbhādhāna is performed and a casket which holds the Seed and Germ of the temple is immured in its wall, to the right of the door, above the level of the First Bricks.⁸⁵

v1.c7.s3.2

⁸⁴ ‘Agnipurāṇa’ LXI, 11, on the ‘Vairāja’ form of the Prāsāda. The temple is the form of total manifestation; in its unity cosmic intelligence (‘Virāj’) is seen. ‘Viṣṇusaṃhitā’, XIII, 61-69; ‘Śilparatna’, XVI, 114.

v1.c7.s3.3

⁸⁵ ‘Īśānaśivagurudevapaddhati’, III, XXVII, 72 f. Re: The seed (bīja) of the Prāsāda, see note 95, the Prāsāda Mantra, Pt. V, note 22; Pt. VIII.

v1.c7.s3.4

As to a woman, the ancient rite of Garbhādhāna (RV. X. 184. 1), of impregnation and steadying of the womb, is performed to the earth; she receives the seed (bīja) of the building and gives substance (prakṛti) to the Germ. Garbha means germ as well as womb, and the receptacle (garbhapātra) which is deposited holds the Seed,—the causal stage whence the unmanifest becomes manifest—and is the womb of the temple which is to arise. The sacrificing priest acts as generator, the Guru who deposits the Garbha on behalf of the donor, on a night of flawless stars.

v1.c7.s3.5

The Garbha-vessel is generally of copper, but is also described as made of gold, silver or copper.⁸⁶ Copper appears as a substitute for gold. Gold is the prime substance of which ‘images’ were made, the golden disc of the sun and the golden effigy of the Puruṣa in the Agni, the fire altar, and thereafter the images of gods.⁸⁷ It is a casket, raised in the folded hands of the priest towards the sky, before it is deposited (‘Śilparatna’, XII. 5). Its dimensions are proportionate to those of the temple. In width it measures one twelfth part of the height of the pillar or the wall proper of the temple. Its base, generally, is square and may also be circular.⁸⁸ Its own height is half of its width.⁸⁹

v1.c7.s3.6

⁸⁶ The casket or vessel (garbhapātra, phelā) is a counterpart to the Ukhā, the fire pan, the womb of the Fire, equal in size with the embryo, Agni. The bottom part of this “earthen womb for the Agni” is this terrestrial world. Of this alone, the Garbhapātra is a symbol; the Ukhā comprised the three worlds, “this world”, air and heaven (Ś.B. VI, 5. 2. 3; VI, 5.2. 22). The Ukhā is placed on the Nābhi (Ś.B. VI, 4.3.10). With regard to its position, the Nidhikalaśa on the Ādhāraśilā corresponds to it. The Nidhikalaśa and the Garbhapātra are vessels of cognate origin and similar significance. According to ‘Tantrasamuccaya’, Part I, Ch. I, 102, the Garbhapātra is a symbol of the entire world. Re: gold, silver or copper, see ‘Hayaśīrṣapañcarātra’, XII, 269, ‘Kāmikāgama’, XXXI, 8-9. Re: silver, cf. also note 87.

v1.c7.s3.7

⁸⁷ ‘Matsyapurāṇa’, LXVIII, 1; LXXXIX, 3-4; LXXXIII, 15. Silver, however, should not be used in the worship of gods; it is associated with the Pitṛs, the Fathers (ib. XVII, 23).

v1.c7.s3.8

⁸⁸ Square or circular, acc. to the ‘Vaikhānāsaāgama’, Ch. VIII; it is said to have the shape of a lotus, acc. to ‘Hayaśīrṣapañcarātra’, XII, 269.

v1.c7.s3.9

⁸⁹ The height of the cover of the casket is given in ‘Kāśyapaśilpa’, XXVI, 11, I.P. 1. c., 75, quoting the ‘Mañjarī’; ‘Tantrasamuccaya’, II, XII, 5; ‘Viṣṇusaṃhitā’, XIII, 23 f; ‘Vaikhānāsaāgama’, VIII, etc.; various proportions are given; they should conform to the rule of three (‘Mañjarī’, 1. c.; ‘Śilparatna’, XII, 33).

v1.c7.s3.11

and is classified according to several standards. These are: The number of the storeys of the building to be set up and which are given up to twelve or sixteen storeys.⁹⁰ With the number of the storeys, the height of the pillar or wall of the ground floor varies. There are moreover three grades of receptacles, the best being also the largest, one cubit (hasta) square. The square casket with a length of 8 finger widths, and half as high, made of copper, seems to have been the one generally in use. Inside, the casket is divided into compartments; like the Vāstumandala, and of varying number.⁹¹ The level at which the Garbha is deposited is highest for Brāhmanas, on the topmost moulding of the base and correspondingly lower for the other castes,⁹² but above the ground, for all castes⁹³ whereas the 'Visnusamhita' (XIII. 25) prescribes that the Garbha for Vaisyas and Sūdras should be deposited below ground.

v1.c7.s3.12

⁹¹ Twenty-five (and not 100: abhikrti) according to 'Isāna-paddhati', III, Ch. XXVII, 81; 'Mayamata', XII, 13, speaks of 9 to 25 compartments (9. 16. 25) or 3², 4², 5². The height of the walls of these compartments is given in 'Mayamata', XII, 14, and their thickness is 2, 3 or 4 Yavas.

v1.c7.s3.13

⁹² 'I.P.', 1. c., 73-74.

v1.c7.s3.14

⁹³ 'Kāmikāgama', Ch. XXXI, 90-93. The 'Tantrasamuccaya', 1.c., follows the 'Visnusamhita' re: the two lower castes; the casket is placed above the Pādukā for Brāhmanas, and on the ground for Ksatriyas.

v1.c7.s3.15

The position of the casket with reference to the castes shows the level from which the ascent towards the highest point, the apex of the temple, is undertaken; the road (mārga) for the Brāhmanas is shorter than that of the lower castes; in view of the total height of the temple this does not amount to much and altogether there need be no difference in the level of the Garbha deposited by the different castes. The proportions of the casket are relative to the height of the building, and to its 'pillar'. It belongs to the building for its measure is taken from it. The contents of the casket are those of the ground (bhūmi) of the temple: the divinities of the Vāstumandala reside in its compartments.⁹⁴ The latter moreover are replete with the wealth of the earth; its precious stones, gems, herbs, metals, roots and soils. These are distributed all around its Brahmasthāna. Within the

v1.c7.s3.16

⁹⁴ 'Isāna-paddhati', III, Ch. XXVII, 81-106; around the Brahmasthāna are the gods of the Vāstupurusamandala, which extends over the bottom of the Garbha vessel. The distribution of the wealth of the earth is as follows: precious stones in the centre; grains and pigments in the four directions; metals and various symbols in the eight directions; soil of different provenience in the 8 directions and in the centre; four varieties of lotus and Tagara (Tabernaemontana coronaria) in the four directions and in the centre; finally in the Brahmasthāna, (in the centre) the attributes of the God whose presence the temple enshrines; cf. 'Mayamata', XII, 88.

v1.c7.s3.17

While generally the height of the casket is half its width (which is 8 angulas, in the 'Silparatna') it is also given as three quarter, or equal to the width ('Kāmikāgama', XXXI, 8-9; 'Kāsyapasīlpa', XXVI, 10). Compared with the Nidhikalasa (p. 112) it has half its width, acc. to the 'Tantrasamuccaya', II, XII, 3-5. The 'Hayasīrsapancarātra', XII, 268, describes it as 12 angulas wide and 4 angulas high.

v1.c7.s3.18

⁹⁰ 'Vaikhānāsaāgama', Ch. VIII, and 'Mayamata', XII, 9-10, indicate 12 sizes, 'Kāsyapasīlpa', XXVI, 9, describes the vessel of different size according to the height of the building ranging from one to sixteen storeys.

v1.c7.s3.19

According to 'Kāsyapasīlpa', XXVI, 10, and 'Mayamata', XII, 11-12, the width of the Garbhapātra is given with reference to the diameter of the pillar (anghri-viskambha) as being equal to it or narrower by an aliquot part.

v1.c7.s3.20

Brahmasthāna rest the symbols of God in the special manifestation in which his presence is invoked in the main image and in the temple itself.

v1.c7.s3.21

During a night which is in every way auspicious to the inception of the building, the Garbha vessel is lowered to the prescribed level of the foundation. On its floor the Serpent Ananta, the Endless, is drawn. On the hood of Ananta, the Garbha-casket has its place. On the lid of the casket, on a square surface, the maṇḍala of the Earth is drawn with its seven continents, seas and mountains. The Casket as the goddess Earth contains all kinds of living beings, the moving and immovable, the Seed (bīja) and womb (garbha) of the building. She is invoked and consecrated with the rhythmic incantation: "O Thou who maintainest all the beings, O beloved, decked with hills for breasts, O ocean-girt, O goddess, O Earth, shelter this Germ (Garbha)." Earth is here the Bhūmi, the ground of being and becoming. The Seed of the temple is laid in her in the centre.⁹⁵ Its germination has been prepared in the rite of the sowing of the seeds and of the growing plants (aṅkurārpaṇa).

v1.c7.s3.22

⁹⁵ The seed in the central compartment (madhyakoṣṭha) is "together with Bindu and Nāda" ('Kāmikāgama', XXXI, 26-30). It is the Seed of the Supreme Principle, in its triple aspect, as Bindu, the point-limit between the unmanifest and the manifest, which is beyond perception; as Nāda, in its subtle aspect as the basic substance or principial vibration; in its gross aspect, as Bīja it is the seed of everything.

v1.c7.s3.23

V

Linked texts (12)