Obtaining the proper Stones (Shila)

Thus reaching the place where the huge collection of stones are present, he should search for the proper Shila. There, for obtaining a suitable Sila one Sila. should chant the following Mantra to the god: 31

trinetraya ca rudraya bhutanam pataye namah / silam darsaya devesa prasanno me vrsadhvajah || parvatesu sila grahya ye lingabhivrddhida / sarvalaksanasampannamstanadrin pravadamyaham// (Prayogamanjari, VII, 7, 8) Then the author gives the names of some mountains which are very difficult to reach. Even if, it is very difficult, the proper Sila for the Linga should be searched in these mountains such as Kailasa, Gandhamadana, Srisaila, Nilacala, Raivata, Mandara, Nisadha, Gauri guru, Malya, Hemakuta, Meru, Sahya, Vindhya, Malaya, Kumara, Vedacala, Mahendra etc. The stones obtained from these mountains are considered as famous ones. If it is not possible the Shila can be fetched from the river also. The author lists out the names of some of such rivers: kaveri sarayusca jahnutanaya godavari narmada sindhuh sonasarasvati ca yamuna ya tumgabhadranadi | vikhyata bhuvi gomatiti visada ya candrabhasahvaya yascanyassaritah payosni bhuvi khyatasca tah kirtitah || (Prayogamanjari, VII, 12) 32

If the stones are not obtained from the rivers, they should be searched in other auspicious places like gardens, Tirthas, Ksetras and similar places. Here the author classifies the earth into four types namely Mahendri, Varuni, Agneyi and Vayavi, a brief nature of which is also given in the text. bhumiscaturvidha jneya mahendri varuni tatha | agneyi vayavi caiva tasam vaksyami laksanam // (Prayogamanjari, VII, 14) Mahendri - It is a place where water is present in the northern area, paddy field in the southern area and in the western area trees should be present which are milky in nature. The stone obtained from this type of land is called as Mahendri Sila. toyam yasyascottare samsthinca vrihiksetram daksinasasritanca / varunyasasamsritah ksiravrksah mahendri sa bhumirasyam sila ca // (Prayogamanjari, VII, 15) Varuni - It is a place where thick flowering trees are present and also having large number of herbs, shrubs and creeping plants. This type of land is rich with water and is very beautiful. 33

toyavrta komalagulmasamkula puspadrumaiscapi samantato vrta | ya va trnadhya pasubhisca sevita sa varuni bhumirativa sobhana || (Prayogamanjari, VII, 16) Agneyi - This is a place where the animals are seen frequently such as pig, eagle and fox and a little amount of water is present in the inner part. Such type of land is called Agneyi. syenasca grdhrah parito varaha yasyanca bhumau satatam bhramanti / antargatam toyamativa mandam seyam mahi vahnigunopapanna // (Prayogamanjari, VII, 17) Vayavi - It is an area where ants are present largely, having lots of rolling stones which are very strong, where water content is almost less. slesmatakaih piluvibhitakaisca ya va prakirna mrgatrsnikadhya / gomayuvrndaisca nisevita syat sa vayavi nastajala dharitri // (Prayogamanjari, VII, 18) 34

These names of the Shilas are related to the particular types of lands mentioned here. Of these four types, Agneyi and Vayavi are to be avoided and the other two to be considered for searching the stone. Comparing this with that of Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati where the names of the mountains and rivers are just mentioned in two Slokas. While the four types of earth are seen as such with lyrical difference. But Silparatna and Tantrasamuccaya do not mention anything about this classification and the names of mountains and rivers. Among these four types, those that are to be avoided are identified as based on their position and shape. A stone which situated in between the trees and termitary, burial ground, a place where sacrifice is conducted, are supposed not to consider for the Linga. A stone which is licked by the wind, by the rays of the sun or by fire are rejected. Also mention is there that a stone is to be rejected which has alkaline water inside it. Stones which are multicoloured and pale coloured are to be avoided. Again three 35

types of stones named as Bala, Vrddha and Candali are to be rejected. Bala This type of stone is very soft as the name indicates and is situated among the trees with lots of impurity. Vrddha -This type of stone is having small reptiles like snake, frog etc. Candali - These are those having multicolour or deep blue complexion and shoots of plants and defective sound. The outer parts of such stones will not be pleasing to look at. balanca vrddham parininditangim candalajatim parivarjayecca / sastrasaha kardamapicchila ca mrdvi ca bala taruvallabha ca || (Prayogamanjari, VII, 21) In Prayogamanjari the eighth Patala is exclusively meant for the treatment of the topic iconography. The author begins this Patala with the description of the male stones used for making the Sivalingas. 36