The Sanskrit term Mūrdheṣṭakāvidhivimānadevatākalpana can be transliterated into English as Murdhestakavidhivimanadevatakalpana or Murdheshtakavidhivimanadevatakalpana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (vastu)

Mūrdheṣṭakāvidhivimānadevatākalpana (मूर्धेष्टकाविधिविमानदेवताकल्पन) (lit. “rules for placement of the roof-bricks, and the installation of the deities on the outside walls of the vimāna-structure”) is the name of chapter 9 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.

Description of the chapter [mūrdheṣṭakāvidhivimānadevatākalpana]: The chapter opens with brief mention and explanation of nagara, drāmiḍa and vesara types of temples (1-3). Then the narrative turns to the ritual complementary to that of laying the “first bricks” (see chapter 5), namely the “last bricks” or mūrdheṣṭakā-ceremonies. First, four (neuter) bricks are placed on an altar atop a heap of grains, and after appropriate worship of ritual pots, fire-offerings and śāntihomas are done. The Ācārya, the Yajamāna and an especially selected assistant, after spending a night in vigil, ritually bathe the four bricks the next morning with the contents of 25 pots. Ṛtviks, invited for the occasion, carry the bricks with great ceremony to the vimāna where the assistant places them one by one into the (top of the) structure (4-20b). After this, the Ācārya is richly rewarded, and he in turn pays off and discharges the carpenters [rathakāra]. (21-23)

A stūpikākīla-axis rod is mounted over the bricks which, in turn, have been covered in their pit with a cache of precious gems, grains, etc. The stūpī-finial is cemented over this by the Ācārya, and surmounting the stūpī-dome a śikhākumbha-pot is placed, having been filled with precious metals and gems (24-41).

The narrative turns then to the installation of the numerous icons of deities and other decorations to be placed in specified niches on the outside superstructure of the storeyed vimāna—with certain alternatives for placements offered (42-66a). Other deities are to be found along the basements, illustrating certain divine stories and manifestations (66b-70a). Since many of the icons on upper storeys will have been made first, then fastened at their appointed places on śūlas, the mortar [sudhā] used to cement them in place must be made in a certain way to assure that they will remain long-standing and secure (70b-76a). Five colors for paints and other decorations are mentioned briefly in closing (766-77).

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Murdheshtakavidhi, Vimanadevatakalpana.

Full-text: Dramida, Nagara, Vimanadevata, Stupi, Sudha, Mortar, Kila, Devatakalpana, Vimanadevatakalpana, Murdheshtakavidhi, Shikhakumbha, Devata, Stupikakila, Vesara, Murdheshtaka.

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