The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t3.29

c8.t3.29

The *uttara vedi, UV*, is raised near the eastern side of the *mahāvedi*, with the *prācī* line passing through its middle. It literally means ‘higher or upper altar’ and so is likened to the nose of the sacrificer: ‘That high altar (*uttara vedi*) is the nose oft he sacrificer; because they throw it up so as to be higher than the altar, therefore it is called ‘high altar’.b The altar is built with the earth dug out of the *cātvāla* pit. This *cātvāla* pit is dug out at a little distance towards north from the north-east corner of the *mahāvedi*. The *Brāhmaṇa* says: ‘....and from where the northern peg of the front side is, he strides three steps backwards and there marks off the pit (*cātvāla*).’c It is of the same measure as that of the *uttara vedi*. Karavinda’s comments on the *cātvāla* is as follows: *uttarasmādvedyaṃsādudakprakrame cātvāla uttaravedisammitah*. West of the *cātvāla* is the rubbish heap *utkara, U*. Eggeling has observed that the exact distance of the *cātvāla* is left to the discretion of the Adhvaryu priest, provided it is in front of the *utkara* and a narrow passage is left between them. He also says that the *cātvāla* pit should be contiguous to the north edge of the large altar, that is, the *mahāvedi*.