[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) › c8.26 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.26 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.26 - **Language:** English ### [c8.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.26) Every one of the altars is constructed with five layers of bricks, which together come usually up to the height of the knee (=32 angulis). In some cases the use of more layers of bricks is permitted with the proportional increase in the height of the altar. Now every layer, it is prescribed, contains a definite number of the bricks of specified shapes. For instance, each layer of the square \*Gārhapatya\* altar is constructed with 21 bricks of square or rectangular shape and each layer of the \*Caturasra Śyena-cit\* consists of 200 square bricks. Again in the case of the altars of other optional sacrifices, shape of the bricks are varied, but the number of them to be employed in the construction remains the same, \*i.e.\*, 200. Sometimes the one and the same altar is constructed in different patterns. All these have given rise to (1) the problems of the division of figures into a particular number of parts of specified shapes and also to (2) certain interesting problems of indeterminate character. - [Previous: c8.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.25) - [Next: c8.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.27) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c8.26) · Pramāṇa