Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c20.2.2

v3.c20.2.2

There is another classification based upon the number of images found in the temple. A temple with Vishvaksēna, Garuḍa, Śrībhūta, Nyaksha and Bhūtapīṭha, a group which goes by the name of pañcha-parivāra, is said to belong to the adhamādhama variety. The addition of Indra, and the other Lōkapālas, Sūrya, Chakra and Śaṅkha converts the temple into one of the adhamamadhyama class. If, further, the images of Vivasvān, Mitra, Kshattā, Dhvaja and Yūthādhipa are found in it, the temple is said to belong to the adhamōttama class. The addition of the images of Siddhi, Śrī, Havihpāla, Skanda, Vighnēśa the Sapta-mātṛikās, Purusha, Jyēshṭhā, Bhārgava, and Brahmā renders the temple into one of the madhyamādhama variety. The temple is of the madhyamamadhyama class if, with the images of the above mentioned deities, there are also those of Bhāskara, Aṅgāraka, Durgā, the seven Rōhiṇis, Manda, Budha, Bṛihaspati and Purusha in the third āvaraṇa. If, in addition to those above mentioned, there are the images of Jyēṣṭhā, Śukra, Gaṅgā, the Saptarishis, Brahmā, Chandra, Rudra, the Aśvins, Kapila, the five Bhūtas, and Sarasvati in the fourth āvaraṇa, the temple is of the madhyamōttama variety. It is of the uttamādhama class if there are in addition to the images already mentioned those of Pṛithvī, Mitra, Nara, Dharma, Dhātṛi, Svarapriyā, Pushpēśa, Vyāhṛiti, Dasra, Bhava, Manu and Mahāvīra.