India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c11.s2.17

c11.s2.17

Special kinds of *vedis* which were made twice or thrice the usual size, were known as *dvistāvā*, *tristāvā* (V.4.84). The normal size of the platform in the Darśa-Paurṇamāsa was 27 ft.×13½ft. (36 *vitastis* long and 18 broad). On this platform different fire-altars were built, each being called a *sthaṇḍila* (IV.2.15; same as *kuṇḍa* in *smārta yajñas*). These altars were made of different shapes referred to in the *sūtra Karmaṇy-agnyākhyāyām* (III.2.92), *e.g.* *śyena-chit*, *kaṅka-chit* (*Kāśikā*), *droṇa-chit* (square), *ratha-chakra-chit* (round), *praüga-chit* (triangular), *ubhayataḥ praüga-chit* (double triangle; *Kāt. Śrauta*, XVI.5.9). These were special *agnis*, the arranging of which was called *agni-chityā* (III1.132). The altars were piled up (*chityā*, III.132) with bricks, which were given special names after the particular *mantras* used for building them (*Tadvānāsāṁ upadhāno mantra itiśhṭakāsu luk cha matoḥ*, IV.4.125). Important words occurring in the *mantras* used for laying the bricks were selected as their names, *e.g.* *Varchasyā*, *Tejasyā*, *Payasyā* and *Retasyā*, ancient words for particular bricks. Pāṇini mentions in particular the bricks called *Āśvinī* (IV.4.126). One who consecrated these sacrificial Fires was known as *agni-chit* (III.2.91).