The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c22.2

c22.2

*Line of Symmetry of the Vedi.*—Every one of the altars of various shapes that have been described in the *Sulba*, has a line of symmetry. Some which are square, rectangular or circular (with or without spokes) have, indeed, more than one such line. But primary importance is always attached even in those cases only to one of them. That line of symmetry of an altar is technically called the *pṛṣṭhyā*. This term is derived from the word *pṛṣṭha* (or "back") and so means "the line marking the back or rather the back-bone of the altar." It has its origin in the comparison of the altar with an animal which occurs repeatedly in the *Saṁhitā* and *Brāhmaṇa*. For instance, the *Taittirīya Saṁhitā* observes, "The Fire-altar is an animal."¹