[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932) › c22.4 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c22.4 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c22.4 - **Language:** English ### [c22.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22.4) \*Configuration of the Vedi.\*—A sacrificial altar is built in such a configuration as to place its principal line of symmetry always along the west-to-east direction. Hence it is also called the \*prācī\*, or "the eastward line." This line, as has been already observed, is of primary importance in the geometry of the \*Sulba\*. For all constructions are described in the \*Sulba\* invariably with reference to it. The sides of an altar lying on either sides of its \*prācī\*, whether parallel to it or not, are called its \*pārśvamānī\*, from \*pārśva\* = "side" and \*māna\* = "measure," and hence meaning literally the "side measure;" those which are at right angles to the \*prācī\* are called the \*tiryaṅmānī\* or the transverse measure," from \*tiryak\* = "transverse," \*māna\* = "measure." The latter term is oftentimes called in short \*tiryak\*, \*tiraścīna\* or \*tiraścī\* ("transverse") which are sometimes further abbreviated into \*tiraḥ\*. These terms are very old and occur in the earliest literatures of the Hindus.¹ The transverse sides are again distinguished into \*paścāttiraścī\* ("the western transverse side") and \*purastāttiraścī\* ("the eastern transverse side").² The former is also called the \*mukha\* (="the face") and the latter the \*pada\* (="the base") of the altar. - [Previous: c22.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22.3) - [Next: c22.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22.5) - [Up: c22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c22.4) · Pramāṇa