[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981) › c3.26 # Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c3.26 Jyotiḥśāstra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c3.26 - **Language:** English ### [c3.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3.26) Each of the basic altars must be constructed with five layers of bricks, and there must be a fixed number of bricks in each layer; moreover, the bricks in the second and fourth layers must not be directly above or below those in the first, third, and fifth layers. And the surface covered by the altar, regardless of its shape, must cover an area of seven and one half square puruṣas, or, for certain purposes, that area increased by specified numbers of square puruṣas, or it must be multiplied by a given factor. Finally, the altar must be correctly oriented with respect to the cardinal directions. The task faced by the authors of the Śulbasūtras was to prescribe rules for laying out these altars with only a rope (rajju or śulba) of determined length and posts or gnomons (śaṅku).²⁰ The geometrical problems that were solved by these altar-builders are indeed impressive, but it would be a mistake to see in their works the unique origin of geometry;²¹ others in India and elsewhere, whether in response to practical or theoretical problems, may well have advanced as far without their solutions having been committed to memory or eventually transcribed in manuscripts. - [Previous: c3.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3.25) - [Next: c3.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3.27) - [Up: c3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c3.26) · Pramāṇa