Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c6.s1.3

c6.s1.3

(i) to clean and level a plot on which the altar is to be constructed, (ii) to fix the east-west line (*prācī*), for it was considered as the reference line, (iii) to construct bricks of specific sizes, (iv) to draw diagrams of specific sizes on the level ground on which the altar is to be constructed, (v) to lay bricks subject to certain principles. To perform these duties many specialists arose to solve constructional problems which required good deal of knowledge of geometry and mathematics. But there cannot be any doubt that the item (iv) together with item (v) helped much the development and nourishment of geometry. In the table (p. 106) an account is given of names of altars, types of altars, horizontal section of the altars (i.e., diagram on the ground) and sectional area (i.e., area covered by these diagrams.).