Chapter 58 - Meru and others, 16 Prāsādas (Meru-ādi-ṣoḍaśa Prāsāda)

[Note: This chapter corresponds to Chapter 55 of the original Samarāṅgaṇa-Sūtradhāra]

This chapter gives a glowing account of a group of sixteen Prāsādas beginning with Meru (see others in the Study proper). The temple Meru heads the list and is given a special treatment eulogised as Prāsādarāja—king of Prāsādas. I am, therefore, compelled to take a detailed notice of it as gathered from this and other chapters on Meru.

Meru:

The number of hastas in the measurement of the plot of Meru should be neither less than 33 nor more than 50. It should be then divided in 10 equal parts. The Garbha, the innermost sanctuary is to be laid in the middle with a water channel (or drain), then follow the details of Śṛṇgas (domes) and other mouldings and component parts required in the pyramidal superstructure in the likeness of the Mount Meru itself. It has as many as sixteen storeys. The crowning members are pitcher, Aṇḍa (egg i.e. Cupola), Veṇukośa Grīvā or neck. Thus the temple has a pyramidal structure with as many as sixteen storeys, four spires, four doors made of brick and stone. The builder of this temple earns the greater virtue than he could have got from distributing the gold in measure of Meru Mount itself. The mountains have provided the choicest of the origins for the Prāsādas and Meru, the Parvatarāja is also the Prāsādarāja. Other details regarding the Prāsādarāja are: Karṇa-prāsādakas to be placed in all the directions having their faces to each direction in the measure of one-third of the Prāsāda site; the Maṇḍapa should be planned on the double the dimension of Prasāda and the Jagatī doable the dimension of the Maṇḍapa. Thus planned in the external establishments together with its own components, the temple emerges in the fullest of picture, well dressed and well decorated like a king with his ornaments Keyūra and armlets etc. Then are given the details of Parivāra-devatās to be placed in their particular directions in the temple and the measurements of the door. In end are given the details of the mouldings and other ornamentation of the component parts of the building of the temple.

A special point regarding these temples is that while Kailāśa, Garuḍa, Padma, Dvīpa are reserved for Maheśvara, Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and Gaṇeśa respectively and cannot be dedicated to the other gods, the other temples are the common property of all the gods.

Meru-ādi-viṃśikā (Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra 57th Chapter)

N.B. The name of this chapter belies its contents, It is the longest chapter not only in the Samarāṅgaṇa, but in the whole of literature dealing with Architecture. In the former part are dealt with the superior variety of fifty Prāsādas beginning with Śrīdhara etc. and, therefore, should form contents of a separate chapter and in the latter are dealt with these Meru and others (numbering twenty). Another thing to note in this connection is that a good number of verses are missing and hence description of some of the varieties in the former group are wanting. I split this long chapter into two equal chapters as 57 (a) and 57 (b) which in the reconstructed scheme are chapters LIX and LX.