The Hindu Temple v1.c9.s2.3

v1.c9.s2.3

⁵⁸ The Āmalaka crown corresponds to the Svayamātṛṇā stone on top of the fifth layer of the Vedic altar. The Āmalaka at the 4 corners has its Vedic analogy in the four naturally perforated stones placed in the 4 directions of the High Altar according to the teaching of the Kaṭhās (‘Āpastamba Śrauta Sūtra’, XIX, 12, 16). Technically however the Āmalaka is not a holed, but a solid stone and serves to lock together the sloping walls of the superstructure.