[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) › c8.18 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.18 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.18 - **Language:** English ### [c8.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.18) The Fire-altars for other optional sacrifices are prescribed to be of different shapes. Thus we find altars also of the shape of (2) \*vakra-pakṣa vyasta-puccha śyena\* (or "the falcon with bent wings and outspread tail"), (3) \*kaṅka\* ("heron"), (4) \*alaja\* (a kind of bird), (5) \*praüga\* ("triangle" usually an isosceles triangle), (6) \*ubhayataḥ praüga\* ("triangles on both sides," that is, a rhombus), (7) \*ratha-cakra\* ("chariot wheel"), (8) \*droṇa\* ("trough"), (9) \*samuhya\* ("combined"), (10) \*paricāyya\* ("circular"), (11) \*śmaśāna\* ("cemetery"), (12) \*kūrma\* ("tortoise"), etc. Each of these altars shall have the same area as that of the standard form of the \*Śyena-cit\*, that is, 7½ square puruṣas. - [Previous: c8.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.17) - [Next: c8.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.19) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.18) · Pramāṇa