The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.16

c8.16

Geometrical operations of more complex nature are required for the accurate construction of the *Kāmya Agni* (or "the fire altars for the sacrifices to achieve special objects"). Amongst them the most ancient and primitive form is the *Śyena-cit* (or "the altar of the form of the falcon"). The *ātman* (or "body," "trunk") of this *citi* (or "altar") consists of four squares of one square puruṣa each. Each of its wings is a rectangle of one puruṣa by one puruṣa and one *aratni* (= ⅕ of a puruṣa). Its tail is a rectangle of one puruṣa by one puruṣa and a *prādeśa* (= 1/10 of a puruṣa). This altar is more usually called *Saptavidha-sāratni-prādeśa-caturasra-śyena-cit* because its area is 7½ square puruṣas, its shape resembles that of a falcon (*śyena*) and because the bricks used in its construction are square.