Chapter 105 - Mode of worship of the presiding deity of a place

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. The presiding deity of the ground should be worshipped in (a mystic diagram) of eighty-one squares for the prosperity of a city, village, fort, house or temple and their definite accomplishment.

2-4. I shall narrate the names of the ten occult nerves which face the east. (They are) śāntā, yaśovatī, kāntā, viśālā, prāṇavāhinī, satī, vasumatī, nandā, subhadrā and manoramā. (The following occult nerves) are remembered in the north in twelve of the eighty-one squares—hariṇī, suprabhā, lakṣmī, vibhūti, vimalā, priyā, jayā, jvālā and viśokā.

5. (Gods) Īśa and others should be worshipped in the eight directions. (Gods) Īśa, Dhanañjaya, Śakra (Indra), Arka (Sun), Satya (truth), Bhṛśa (strong) and Vyoma (sky) (should be worshipped) in the east.

6. (Gods) Havyavāha (fire), Pūṣan, Vitatha, (untruth), Bhauma (Mars), Kṛtānta (god of death), Gandharva (a semi-divine being), Bhṛṅga and Mṛga (should be worshipped) in the south.

7. The Pitṛs, the door-keepers, Sugrīva, Puṣpadanta, Varuṇa, Daitya (demon), Śeṣa (the serpent-god), and yakṣman. (consumption) (should be worshipped) always in the west.

8. The diseases, the serpent-chief, Bhallāṭa, fortune, Aditi, and Diti should occupy six half squares. (God) Brahmā should be worshipped in the nine squares (at the centre).

9-10. (God) known as ĀYĀ (should be worshipped) in the two north-eastern squares of Brahmā. (God) known as Apavatsa (should be located) in the six squares below that between the central points. (God) Savitā should occupy two squares in between those of Marīci and Fire-god. (God) Sāvitrī should occupy two places below that and (God) Vivasvān six places below that.

11. (One should worship) (the gods), Viṣṇu, Indra, Jaya and the moon in the squares belonging to Pitṛs and (lord) Brahmā. (The god) Mitra should be worshipped in the six squares in between those of (gods) Brahmā and Varuṇa.

12. The attendant of (god) Rudra (should be worshipped) always in the ten (squares) in between those of the diseases and (god) Brahmā. (The disease) yakṣman (consumption) (should be worshipped) in the two squares below that and dharādhara in the six squares on the north.

13. (The demonesses and demons)īCaraki, Skandavikaṭa Vidārī, Pūtanā, Jambha, Pāpa and Pilipiccha should be worshipped outside in the directions of north-east etc.

14. There should be eighty-one divisions of squares (in the case of a site relating to) a house. The same should be one hundred divisions (if it relates to) a (temple) pavilion. As before, the gods should be worshipped. (Lord) Brahmā (should be worshipped) in the sixteen squares (at the centre).

15-16. (The gods) Marīci, Vivasvat, Mitra and Pṛthvīdhara should be (worshipped) in ten squares in the (four) directions. Diti, Īśānī, Mṛga, Mukhya, Pitṛs, Pāpa (spirit of sin), yakṣman (consumption) and fire-god should be (worshipped) in one and a half square each in the (eight) directions northeast etc.

17. O Guha (Kumāra, son of Lord Śiva and Pārvatī)! I shall briefly describe the measures (of different forms of temples) in order. It should measure twentyeight cubits in length and twentyeight cubits in breadth.

18. The entire circumference would measure twenty-two cubits. The width of the wall would measure nine. The above measures would hold good in the case of pavilions known as śivāśraya, śivākhya, rudra-hīna and sadobhaya.

19. (The pavilions of) the Sāvitra class would measure eighteen cubits in length and fifteen in breadth, and the width of the walls would be made equal to a thirtieth part of the above.

20. The height of the walls above the plinth would measure thrice the width thereof. The ground elevation of manifold kinds depending on the passages should be in a same line with the foot of the wall.

21. In the Bhadra (type of temples) there should be passages (on all sides) except at the front. There should be a passage at the entrance. The Śrijaya (class) would be devoid of the hinder (passage). If there are no passages on the sides it is Bhadra class.

22. The passage (should be) as wide as the adytum or half of it. The supplementary passage (should be) half (that) of the (main) passage and should link one, two or three chambers.

23. I shall describe the common features of the temples which would confer all the desires (on the consecrator). (It should have) one, two, three, four or eight rooms in order.

24. In a temple having one room the southern part should face the north. If there are two, one of them should have its western part facing the east. If there are four rooms there should be one room each as stated above facing the north and east respectively.

25. If it faces the west it is known as Śiva, the east (it is known as) Yamasūryaka, the east and north (it is known as) Daṇḍa, and the east and south (it is) known as Vāta.

26. If it faces the west and north it is called Bali. That which is (known as) the Triśūla will get destruction of wealth. A house devoid of its eastern wing will be Sukṣetra which confers prosperity.

27. One devoid of southern rooms is (known as) Śūlī. That are having three rooms confers excessive prosperity. The building without any room on the west destroys the progeny of the consecrator) and also creates many enemies.

28-29. I shall describe the eight chambers commencing with the east (known as) dhvaja etc. The washing and fragrance chambers as well as the kitchen (should be) on the south-east. The parlour and bed chambers (should be) in the south. (The chamber) for bows and weapons (should be) at the south-west. (The chamber) for costly articles (should be) at the west. (Room) for articles of perfume (should be) at the north-west.

30. (The chamber) for wealth and cattle should be made in the north. The excellent place for initiation (should be) on the north-east. The building (should be made) according to (a standard) measured with the consecrator’s hand and coextensive with the pedestal.

31. The cubit measures should be tripled and then divided by eight. Then the remainder should (be the measure) of the dhvaja etc. upto the end of vāyasa.

32. A building (raised on) the second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and the eighth (parts of the ground) as well as in the middle and end will be ruinous.

33. Hence, the divine edifice built on the ninth part is deemed to be auspicious. The pavilion built at the centre thereof having a breadth equal to or twice the breadth (of the edifice) is commendable.

34-38. Eight rooms each should be built on the east, west, north and south. The effects of these from east onwards are respectively (described). Fear, association with woman, victory, prosperity, fame, righteousness, strife and poverty are the eight effects of the door on the east. The eight effects of the door on the south are conflagration, unhappiness, annihilation of friends, loss of property, death, (gain of) wealth, becoming a sculptor and (birth of) children. Long life, banishment, grains, wealth, peace, destruction of wealth, emaciation, enjoyment, progeny are the effects of the door on the west. Illness, intoxication affliction, prominence, wealth, longevity, intelligence and honour are the effects of the door on the north.