History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.110

v3.c43.110

²⁰³⁹ There is a work called Kuṇḍārka by Śaṁkara, son of Nīlakaṇṭha, which in 15 stanzas succinctly gives all information about kuṇḍas. They are of ten kinds, circular, lotus-like, crescent-shaped, yoni, triangular, quadrangular, pentangular to octagonal. The diagonal drawn from north-east to south-west may be one hasta, two hastas, four, 6 or eight according as the oblations to be offered are 1000 or more up to 10,000 or from 10,000 up to a lakh, or from a lakh up to ten lakhs ( 4 hastas ), from ten lakhs up to a crore ( six hastas ) and any number beyond a crore ( 8 hastas ). This extent is necessary for preventing the oblations from falling outside the kuṇḍa. Kuṇḍas of different forms were employed according to the rites performed. Vide Hemādri ( dāna, pp. 125-134 ) for further details.