Chapter 53 - The altar (pīṭha-lakṣaṇa)

1. The characteristic features of the altars [viz., pīṭha-lakṣaṇa] of all the phalli will be described (now).

2-3. Of the Svayambhu (self-revealed) phallus, the breadth of the altar should be three times the breadth of the phallus, or that should be equal to the width of the broadest part of the phallus.

4-6. The height of the altar of the Svayambhu phallus is said to be equal to the (height of the) phallus, or greater by one-fourth, one-half, or three-fourths, or twice, or thrice (as much).

7. Thus should be measured the altar by the wise (architect) in comparison with the measure of its phallus.

8. Now (will be described) the characteristic features of the altars of the phalli the measurement of which has already been described.

9-10. The breadth of the altar should be otherwise equal to the width of the phallus measured round the outside.

11-12. The height of the altar of the Svastika phallus should be equal to its Viṣṇu (i.e., middle) portion, or that may be equal to the Brahmā (base) portion increased by one-fourth.

13. In all other phalli it (the height of the altar) may be made by the wise (architect) equal to the Brahmā portion.

14-15. That height (of the whole) being divided into two, three, four or five parts, the height of the Viṣṇu portion should be greater than the (height of the) altar by one part.

16. One and a half parts out of the nine parts of the Viṣṇu (middle) portion may (otherwise) be the altar at the base.

17-18. Thus should the altar be joined (to the phallus); its breadth being divided into three parts, one part should be the length of the channel (nāla), and the width of the base (mūla) equal to that: thus should be distributed the three parts (lit., four less one), the remainder being the width of the top (agra).

20-21. As an alternative the width at the forepart of the channel may be three out of five parts (of the breadth of the altar), and the length of the channel should be greater than the aforesaid by one part.

22. The same measure of the channel as aforesaid should be its width above the neck

23. The width of the straight water-course (jaladhārā) should be one-third of the breadth (width) of the channel.

24-25. The width of the upper altar being divided into four, five, or six parts, the width of the surrounding water-course (vṛtavāri) should be the last one part.

26-27. The width of the surrounding water-course being divided into the same number of parts (i.e., four, five or six), the width of the drip (nimna) including the fillet (phaṭṭikā) at the base should be one part.

28. Thereupon the stone of the Nandyāvarta shape should extend up to the Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu) portion.

29. Thus is stated (the composition of) the height of the altar; the relative (gaṇya) measurement (of its component mouldings) will be described below.

30-34. Of the sixteen parts of the height (of the altar), the base (lit., the first member) should be two parts; the height of the cyma (lotus) should be three parts, and the projection (kṣepaṇa) above that one part; the neck (kandhara) should be three parts and the fillet (kampa) above that one part; the upper cyma (lotus) should be three parts, and the fillet (vājana) also three parts; and the surrounding water-course (aboveī should be one part: this (altar) is known as the Bhadra altar.

35-36. The same (altar, with this difference) that at the neck portion there should be made a torus (lit., water-lily, instead of the lotus or cyma) with projection, and optionally a round pitcher of three parts: such (an altar) is called the śrībhadra.

37-39. The (same with this difference that the) pitcher should be furnished with a cyma (lotus) of half a part at the bottom and the top: the wise architect should make this (lotus) of half a part at its bottom (and the top, without fail); and the rest should be as before such an altar is known as the Śrīviśāla.

40-41. When the pitcher is of ten parts, and the height of the cyma (lotus) four parts, and the rest be made as before, then such an altar is called the Upapīṭha.

42-43. The private (sex) organ may optionally be made like the base in connection with all the phalli (and the altars thereof); and that (organ) in case of the altar should end at its corner and be like a band in conformity with the (total) height.

44-45. If the aforesaid breadth, etc., be without (sufficient) projection it would be all defective; therefore, the projection must be made, and that should be given to the breadth (in particular).

46-48. The Nāgara (northern) altar should be constructed for the Nāgara phallus; the Drāviḍa (southern) altar is said to be for the Drāviḍa phallus, and the Vesara (eastern) altar for the Vesara phallus; and the Andhra altar should be constructed for, all the Andhra phalli^[1].

49-50. The private organ part of the phallus should be in conformity with the form of the phalli of the various shapes, the conformity being restricted to the shape of the top portion (only).

51-62. If the reverse be done it would cause danger and difficulties to the Brahmans and others; therefore, the temple, the phallus, etc. (i.e., including altars) should be symmetrical to one another.

53-55. The Nāgara altar should be quadrangular in form, the Drāviḍa octagonal, and the Vesara round: these are the (more common) shapes of altars; and the altars of the Andhra phalli should have the Andhra (i.e., hexagonal)^[2] shape.

56. All these which bring forth all prosperity should be always followed by the artists.

57-60. The breadth of the altar of the Svayambhu phallus should be three times the width of the phallus; and the breadth of the temple (adytum) proper should be three times the breadth of the altar; the projection of the breadth around the outside of the temple should be one-third its breadth; but according to some, the breadth of the altar may be equal to its (? adytum’s) length (i.e., breadth).

Thus in the Mānasāra, the science of architecture, the fifty-third chapter, entitled: “The description of the altar”.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Compare Chapter XLIII, 123-125, p. 448, where Andhra has been recognized as a separate style with the hexagonal shape. (See the writer’s Dictionary, page 309.)

[2]:

Compare note under line 48, and see the writer’s Dictionary, page 300.