The Shulbasutras of Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana and Manava: With Text, English Translation and Commentary c8.t8.2

c8.t8.2

**10.1.** This type of fire-altar is constructed more in the likeness of a falcon. To achieve this the two wings are to be curved or bent and the tail is to be extended, that is, spread out. The body (*ātman*) itself should be cut out at its four corners, and there should be a head. The end of each wing is serrated to give it the appearance of being provided with feathers (*patra*). The laying of this type of fire-altar on the part of those who desire heaven has been greatly emphasized in the *Brāhmaṇas*. Here are a few excerpts from the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* : "Prajāpati was desirous of going up to the world of heaven ;…… He saw this bird-like body, the fire-altar, and constructed it. He attempted to fly up, without contracting and expanding (the wings), but could not do so. By contracting and expanding (the wings) he did fly up : whence even to this day birds can only fly up when they contract their wings and spread their feathers"a . Again, "He contracts (the right wing) inside on both sides by just four finger-breadths, and expands it outside on both sides by four finger-breadths;…… In the same way with regard to the tail, and in the same way in regard to the left wing."b