Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s2.150

v2.c74.s2.150

After the ritualistic details in connection with the procurements of the proper stone, the Śilparatna (vide chapt. I 22-30) makes a modification of the ancient rule of caste-wise colour of the stone that a devotee belonging to any caste can have any colour he likes—sarveṣāmathavā sarvāḥ śilah syuriti kecan. Then are enumerated the merits of the fourfold colour of the stone—white bestows emancipation, red the victory, yellow the wealth, the black the prosperity (dhānyam). Śilparatna also colloborates the recommendatian of Haribhakti-vilāsa that the masculine stone should be used for the image proper, the feminine for its pedestal or altar and the neuter for the base—the lowermost part. Any diviation from this rule according to the text brings misfortune to the nation as a whole :