The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c5.s2.1

c5.s2.1

The Vedic cult knew no temple. The ceremonies were performed either in the sacrificer's house or on a nearby plot of ground. This ground must be flat and covered with grass. For the performance of sacrifices, certain *vedis* and *agnis* had to be constructed. A *vedi* is a specified raised area on which the sacrifice is to be performed and on which persons performing the ceremony, namely the sacrificer, the *hotā*, the *adhvaryu*, the *ṛtvik* and others are to take their seats. Some of the main *vedis* include the *mahāvedi*, the *darśapūrṇamāsa vedi*, the *śautrāmaṇi vedi*, the *paitṛki vedi*, the *uttara vedi*, and the *aśvamedha vedi*. An *agni* is a raised altar, generally made of bricks, for keeping the fire. The fire-altars were of two types, the *nitya* (or perpetual) and the *kāmya* (or optional). The three perpetual fire-altars were the *gārhapatya*, the *āhavanīya* and the *dakṣiṇāgni* and meant for daily sacrifices. The *kāmya agnis* intended for wish fulfilment, included the *śyenacit*, the *vakrapakṣa-vyasta-puccha-śyena*, the *kaṅkacit*, the *alajacit*, the *praugacit*, the *ubhayata praugacit*, the *droṇacit*, the *rathacakracit*, the *śmaśānacit*, the *kūrmacit*, and so on.