3. Site Selection for Temple Building

Selection of proper site is very necessary for any construction. It is the prime and first duty of the constructor or the proprietor to find out a perfect land which should possess the required qualities. According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, in the process of construction of the temple, the land should be perfect and auspicious. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, a strict guideline is seen for the selection of land for a temple. The examination of land is strongly recommended in the Mayamata also.^[1] According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, the land for temple should be accompanied with the sources of water and the temple should be made on the left side or in front of that reservoir of water.^[2] Islands are regarded as the best sites for temples by the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa as they are surrounded by water.^[3]

In the Bṛhatsaṃhitā also, need of water tank in the site of temple is recommended.^[4] Moreover, the sites like land outside a village, on the banks of rivers and lakes, forests, parks, peaks of mountains etc. are recommended as the desired sites for the construction of temples.^[5] According to the Gobhilagṛhyasūtra, the site of temple construction should be even and it should be the one where water can flow to the east or north.^[6]

Again, in the Bhaviṣyapurāṇa it is stated that, the abode of god should be established near the forest and the place should be full of rivers, mountains and springs.^[7] The lands covered by thorny trees, gravels, small stones, lump of earth, ant hills, rat’s shelters, and the plots which are unleveled, inaccessible, covered with ants, cut by cart all the time, flooded area are not suitable for the construction of temples.^[8] Moreover, some inauspicious places which have slaughtering house, prison, houses burnt by fire earlier, places of evil deeds, which are triangular or sūrpākāra i.e., in the shape of a winnowing basket^[9] or void of turnings etc. are to be totally discarded for choosing a site for temple construction.^[10]