The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c8.7

c8.7

Now we find it from the *Śulba*, that the altar of the *Gārhapatya* must be of the form of a square, according to one school, and a circle, according to a different school. The altar for the *Āhavanīya* should be always square and that of the *Dakṣiṇa* semi-circular. The area of each, however, must be the same and equal to one square *vyāma* (1 *vyāma* = 96 *aṅgulis*). So the construction of these three altars, it will easily be recognised, pre-supposes the knowledge of the following geometrical operations:—