Significance of Altar
Synonyms: Shrine, Sacred table, Worship place, Sacrificial table, Place of worship, Sanctuary, Pulpit, Holy table, Sacristy
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Altar'
In Hinduism, the altar serves multiple significant roles, including a ritual structure for offerings, a sacred platform for ceremonies, and a metaphorical site of spiritual connection and divine presence, central to various sacrificial rituals.
From: Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
(1) The altar is the location where the organs are placed, specifically on the southern buttock, after being carried from between specified locations.[1] (2) The altar is a central element where certain actions are performed, such as crossing it, placing the right foot within it, and offering libations, indicating it is the center of ritual action.[2] (3) This is a structure that the Adhvaryu crosses towards the south for the last Prayaja-offering.[3] (4) Dug out by a single draw of the wooden sword, ending towards the south-east, and sprinkled with water.[4] (5) The altar is crossed towards the south, and back towards the north during the procedure.[5]
From: Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
(1) The sacred space where rituals are performed and offerings are made in Vedic ceremonies.[6] (2) The sacred platform where offerings and rituals are performed.[7] (3) A sacred platform where offerings are made, which has been prepared for a specific purpose.[8] (4) The designated place where the offerings are placed by the Adhvaryu.[9] (5) The sacred platform or space where sacrifices are offered.[10]
From: Vasistha Dharmasutra
(1) A structure used as a base for offerings in religious rituals.[11]
From: Apastamba Dharma-sutra
(1) A raised platform intended for performing religious rituals and offerings.[12]
From: Apastamba Yajna-paribhasa-sutras
(1) Priests are instructed never to turn their backs towards the altar during sacrificial proceedings.[13]
From: Satapatha-brahmana
(1) Altar is measured by the man with upstretched arms, signifying the sacrifice and securing his highest measure, with enclosing-stones adding to the space.[14] (2) It is where seventeen drums are placed along the edge, and a Rajanya shoots seventeen arrow's ranges northwards.[15] (3) Also referred to as vedi, this is the location where the Adhvaryu sits down, inside, to receive the kneading-water from the Agnidhra.[16] (4) It is covered with the Lokamprina and is built with bricks. The body is produced first, then the right wing, then the tail, then the left wing.[17] (5) The term represents the function of the line drawn south of the Dakshina fire, indicating a specific ritualistic element.[18]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) The altar is a place where offerings are made during the sacrifice, and Samvarta ascends it to offer oblations, and it is central to the ceremony.[19]
From: Manasara (English translation)
(1) The text provides details about altars, specifically their characteristic features, measurements, and shapes in relation to phalli, including Svayambhu, Svastika, Nagara, Dravida, Vesara and Andhra phalli.[20] (2) It is also installed on the bank of the river or the mountain, and its length is said to be equal to the height of the phallus, or three-fourths or one-half of it.[21] (3) A structure symbolizing divine presence associated with rituals and sacred actions, detailed in the context of Pitha in Chapter LIII.[22]
From: Prem Sagar (English translation)
(1) The sacred place where rituals and offerings are made during the sacrificial ceremony.[23] (2) The place built by the Raja’s son for the performance of sacrifices and summoning of Kritya.[24]
From: Parama Samhita (English translation)
(1) This is a designated space created near the water where the image is placed and where specific rituals, such as offering food, are performed.[25] (2) The altar is a structure, often four-sided, made with sand in another place, and it is raised with the astra-mantra and sprinkled with clean water, and sand is spread on it.[26]
From: Kautilya Arthashastra
(1) These are situated in various locations, including places where four roads meet, ancient ruins, and places of pilgrimage, where spies gather information.[27] (2) A structure used for religious rituals that can also serve as a hiding place or a point of attack.[28]
From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) The chest of the Vaishvanara-Self, serving as a metaphor for the site of offerings and spiritual connection.[29]
The concept of Altar in local and regional sources
Altar refers to structures, as identified by regional sources, highlighting its significance in various cultural or religious practices where offerings or rituals may take place.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) These are structures.[30]
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) According to the provided text, the Hindus, alongside the Egyptians, contributed to the evolution of geometry through the construction of altars, highlighting the connection between religious practices and advancements in mathematical understanding.[31]
The concept of Altar in scientific sources
Altar, the most sacred church space, facilitates direct contact with the divine. It's the focal point for religious ceremonies and a symbolic connection to a higher power.
From: Religions Journal (MDPI)
(1) Altars are significant in the Bemba worldview, with each ethnonation, each community, and each household having its own altar and they could be regarded as diffused, because they are all subject to the ultimate altar of Chitimukulu.[32] (2) The text describes altars as essential components of the ritual, including the left altar for the land god and the right altar for calling the armies.[33] (3) Three altars bearing fruit are set up along the road at Sungei Tengah, and the procession travels down the road and the palanquins rush each altar, with their bearers yelling.[34] (4) A sacred structure or place established for religious purposes, where offerings and prayers are made to a divine entity.[35] (5) A place where monks can serve during Mass, as one of the ways they can receive items from offerings.[36]
Classical concept of 'Altar'
From: The Argonautica (English translation)
(1) A sacred place was prepared with sheep, indicating a religious ceremony or sacrifice.[37] (2) The altar which the heroes raised on the beach to the goddess remains a sight to men of a later day, showing a lasting monument to sacrifice.[38] (3) The altar is smirched with soot and was set up to Zeus by the Aeolid Phrixus when he sacrificed the golden wonder.[39] (4) According to the passage, the crew built an altar to Apollo, saviour of ships, demonstrating their religious practices and seeking divine protection.[40] (5) A structure is built and dedicated to a deity on the beach, where sacrifices are made.[41]
From: Aesop's Fables (English translation)
(1) The Eagle hovered near an "altar" where villagers were sacrificing a goat, which led to her fateful acquisition of a burning cinder.[42] (2) An "Altar" is a structure upon which sacrifices are offered, and in the story, the Heifer was led to the altar to be slain in honor of the harvest festival.[43] (3) The altars are the places where the raven previously found food, which it abandoned in its pursuit of changing its color, ultimately leading to its starvation.[44]
From: The Liturgy of Funerary Offerings
(1) This is a specific elevated structure upon which the contributions of food and drink are positioned during the series of rituals.[45] (2) The altar, also referred to as the table for the offerings, was purified for the KA, or Double, of the deceased, ensuring it was ready for the ritual.[46]
From: The Odyssey of Homer (English translation)
(1) A place where Laertes and Ulysses had offered sacrifices, and where Phemius considered seeking refuge to avoid being killed by Ulysses.[47] (2) A place where a fine fat five year old boar pig was set, before being sacrificed.[48]
From: The Iliad of Homer (English translation)
(1) The altars dedicated to the gods are located near the ships of Ulysses, underscoring the importance of religious observance and seeking divine favor in times of conflict.[49]
From: The History of Herodotus
(1) The sealed beast is led to the altar where a fire is kindled, and libations of wine are poured over it, followed by calling upon the god and cutting its throat, illustrating sacrificial rituals.[50]
From: Ancient Egypt the Light of the World
(1) It is built by Moses, and he called it 'Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord is my banner,' suggestive of a title of Anhur.[51] (2) The smoke of incense rising from the altar continued the same type of rising to heaven, similar to kindling a fire on the grave.[52] (3) The Chinese still call this a mound, and because of its being a figure of the earth amidst the Nun, it was raised immediately after the deluge.[53] (4) The first was the night of the evening meal (literally the last supper), and the laying of offerings on "the altar", which is the night of provisioning the Lord's table.[54]
From: Egypt Through The Stereoscope
(1) A small structure in front of the divine figures and behind the hawk, used for the temple service and marked on the plan in the Sanctuary.[55] (2) The altar of sacrifice stood in the court, but it has now perished, replaced by a native leading a buffalo to pasture.[56]
From: The Book of the Dead
(1) The "altar" is a place where offerings are received, suggesting a site of worship and ritual where tributes are given to a deity or deities.[57] (2) They who preside at the altars are the similitude of the eye of Ra and the similitude of the eye of Horus, symbolizing divine presence in worship.[58]
From: Egyptian Magic
(1) According to the text, if even the expense of an "altar" could not be borne by the relatives of the dead, an altar with offerings painted upon it was placed in the tomb.[59]
From: Legends Of The Gods
(1) Wine was poured out over these as the blood of enemies who had fought against them. It was not because they looked upon it as being acceptable to them for its own sake.[60]