The Hindu Temple v1.c8.s2.3

v1.c8.s2.3

³⁰ Devagṛha, however, is not only a house of God on earth; it is also the name of the luminaries, the abodes in the firmament of those Ṛṣis, etc. who attained Deva-hood by their Karmas. The stars and the luminous spheres in the firmament are Devagṛhas; ‘Matsyapurāṇa’, CXXVIII. 39-41. Cf. also the meaning of Vimāna as ‘prototype’ of the temple; Part VII. The other names which have not been explained as yet, denote: Saudha, a plastered, palatial building; Dhāman, a residence; Sadanam and sadma are from the same root ‘sad’ as Prāsāda; 13, 14 and 25: Laya, Ālaya and Nilaya, a place of rest, a residence; 16 and 24: Pada and Āspada, a station; 15, 17 and 18: Vāsa, Vāstu and Vāstuka from ‘vas’ (pp. 82-3) and 19: Kṣetra, sacred ground and abode (see note 28). The ‘Kāśyapaśilpa’ (XXIII. 1), enumerates as synonyms: Prāsāda, Sadanam, Sadma, Harmyam, Dhāman, Niketanam, Mandiram, Bhavanam, Vāsa, Geha, Divya-Vimānaka, Āśraya, Āspada, Ādhāra and Ādhārapratidhiṣṇya. Āśraya, Ādhāra and Ādhārapratidhiṣṇya signify the support which the temple, being a seat, gives to divinity.