The Characteristics of Temples, Lingas, and Pavilions

Verse 1 (garuda.1.47.1)

।।सूत उवाच ।। प्रासादानां लक्षणं च वक्ष्ये शौनक तच्छृणु ।। चतुः षष्टिपदं कृत्वा दिग्विदिक्षूपलक्षितम्

..sūta uvāca .. prāsādānāṁ lakṣaṇaṁ ca vakṣye śaunaka tacchṛṇu .. catuḥ ṣaṣṭipadaṁ kṛtvā digvidikṣūpalakṣitam

Suta said: O Shaunaka, I shall now describe the characteristics of temples; listen to that. Having laid out sixty-four squares, marked by the cardinal and intermediate directions,

Verse 2 (garuda.1.47.2)

चतुष्कोणं चतुर्भिश्च द्वाराणि सूर्य्यसंख्यया ।। चत्वारिंशाष्टभिश्चैव भित्तीनां कल्पना भवेत्

catuṣkoṇaṁ caturbhiśca dvārāṇi sūryyasaṁkhyayā .. catvāriṁśāṣṭabhiścaiva bhittīnāṁ kalpanā bhavet

made foursquare, with twelve doors, the walls should be planned out into forty-eight portions.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.47.3)

ऊर्द्ध्वक्षेत्रसमा जङ्घा जङ्घार्धद्विगुणं भवेत् ।। गर्भविस्तारविस्तीर्णः शुकाङ्घ्रिश्च विधीयते

ūrddhvakṣetrasamā jaṅghā jaṅghārdhadviguṇaṁ bhavet .. garbhavistāravistīrṇaḥ śukāṅghriśca vidhīyate

The jangha (the shaft of the wall) should equal the space above it; half the jangha, doubled, gives the next measure. A projecting element called the shuka-anghri (the 'parrot's foot'), as wide as the sanctum, is prescribed.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.47.4)

तत्त्रिभागेन कर्त्तव्यः पञ्चभागेन वा पुनः ।। निर्गमस्तु शुकाङ्घ्रेश्च उच्छ्रायः शिखरार्द्धगः

tattribhāgena karttavyaḥ pañcabhāgena vā punaḥ .. nirgamastu śukāṅghreśca ucchrāyaḥ śikharārddhagaḥ

It should be made by a third part, or again by a fifth part. The projection and height of the shuka-anghri reach up to half the spire.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.47.5)

चतुर्द्धा शिखरं कृत्वा त्रिभागे वेदिबन्धनम् ।। चतुर्थे पुनरस्यैव कण्ठमामूलसाधनम्

caturddhā śikharaṁ kṛtvā tribhāge vedibandhanam .. caturthe punarasyaiva kaṇṭhamāmūlasādhanam

Having divided the spire into four parts, in the third part is the base-moulding; and in its fourth part, built up from the base itself, is the neck.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.47.6)

अथ वापि समं वास्तुं कृत्वा षोडशभागिकम् ।। तस्य मध्ये चतुर्भागमादौ गर्भं तु कारयेत्

atha vāpi samaṁ vāstuṁ kṛtvā ṣoḍaśabhāgikam .. tasya madhye caturbhāgamādau garbhaṁ tu kārayet

Or else, having made the plot square, it should be divided into sixteen parts. In its center, at the very start, the sanctum of four parts should be made.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.47.7)

चतुर्भागेन भित्तीनामुच्छ्रायः स्यात्प्रमाणतः

caturbhāgena bhittīnāmucchrāyaḥ syātpramāṇataḥ

By the measure of four parts, the height of the walls should be fixed.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.47.8)

द्विगुणः शिखरोच्छ्रायो भित्त्युच्छायाच्च मानतः ।। शिखरार्द्धस्य चार्द्धेन विधेयास्तु प्रदक्षिणाः

dviguṇaḥ śikharocchrāyo bhittyucchāyācca mānataḥ .. śikharārddhasya cārddhena vidheyāstu pradakṣiṇāḥ

The height of the spire is double the height of the wall by measure. By half of half the spire's height, the circumambulatory passage should be made.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.47.9)

चतुर्दिक्षु तथा ज्ञेयो निर्गमस्तुः तथा बुधैः ।। पञ्चभागेन संभज्य गर्भमानं विचक्षणः

caturdikṣu tathā jñeyo nirgamastuḥ tathā budhaiḥ .. pañcabhāgena saṁbhajya garbhamānaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ

Likewise, the wise should know the projection in all four directions. Having divided the sanctum's measure into five parts, the discerning architect,

Verse 10 (garuda.1.47.10)

भागमेकं गृहीत्वा तु निर्गमं क्लपयेत्पुनः ।। गर्भसूत्रसमो भागादग्रतो मुखमण्डपः

bhāgamekaṁ gṛhītvā tu nirgamaṁ klapayetpunaḥ .. garbhasūtrasamo bhāgādagrato mukhamaṇḍapaḥ

taking one part, should again fashion the projecting porch. From a portion equal to the sanctum's central axis, in front, is the entrance-pavilion.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.47.11)

एतत्सामान्यमुद्दिष्टं प्रासादस्य हि लक्षणम् ।। लिङ्गमानमथो वक्ष्ये पीठो लिङ्गसमो भवेत्

etatsāmānyamuddiṣṭaṁ prāsādasya hi lakṣaṇam .. liṅgamānamatho vakṣye pīṭho liṅgasamo bhavet

This is declared as the general characteristic of a temple. Now I shall speak of the linga's measure: the pedestal should equal the linga.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.47.12)

द्विगुणेन भवेद्रर्भः समन्ताच्छौनक ध्रुवम् ।। तद्द्विधा च भवेद्भीतिर्जंघा तद्विस्तरार्द्धगा

dviguṇena bhavedrarbhaḥ samantācchaunaka dhruvam .. taddvidhā ca bhavedbhītirjaṁghā tadvistarārddhagā

O Shaunaka, the sanctum should certainly be double that all around. Double that again is the wall; the jangha extends to half its width.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.47.13)

द्विगुणं शिखरं प्रोक्तं जङ्घायाश्चैव शौनक ।। पीठगर्भावरं कर्म तन्मानेन शुकाङ्घ्रिकम्

dviguṇaṁ śikharaṁ proktaṁ jaṅghāyāścaiva śaunaka .. pīṭhagarbhāvaraṁ karma tanmānena śukāṅghrikam

O Shaunaka, the spire is declared to be double the jangha. The construction below the pedestal and sanctum, by that same measure, gives the shuka-anghri.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.47.14)

निर्गमस्तु समाख्यातः शेषं पूर्ववदेव तु ।। लिंगमानं स्मृतं ह्येतद्द्वारमानमथोच्यते

nirgamastu samākhyātaḥ śeṣaṁ pūrvavadeva tu .. liṁgamānaṁ smṛtaṁ hyetaddvāramānamathocyate

The projection is likewise declared; the rest follows as before. This is the linga's measure as remembered; now the door's measure is told.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.47.15)

कराग्रं वेदवत्कृत्वा द्वारं भागाष्टमं भवेत् ।। विस्तरेण समाख्यातं द्विगुणंस्वेच्छया भवेत्

karāgraṁ vedavatkṛtvā dvāraṁ bhāgāṣṭamaṁ bhavet .. vistareṇa samākhyātaṁ dviguṇaṁsvecchayā bhavet

Taking the fingertip's span as equal to the Veda-number (four), the door becomes an eighth part. This is declared as to width; it may be doubled according to one's wish.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.47.16)

द्वारवत्पीठमध्ये तु शेषं शुषिरकं भवेत् ।। पादिकं शेषिकं भित्तिर्द्वारार्द्धेन परिग्रहात्

dvāravatpīṭhamadhye tu śeṣaṁ śuṣirakaṁ bhavet .. pādikaṁ śeṣikaṁ bhittirdvārārddhena parigrahāt

In the middle of the pedestal, in a portion equal to the door, the remainder is hollow. The base and the remaining part form the wall, taking half the door's measure.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.47.17)

तद्विस्तारसमा जङ्घा शिखरं द्विगुणं भवेत् ।। शुकाङ्घ्रिः पूर्ववज्ज्ञेया निर्गमोच्छ्रायकं भवेत्

tadvistārasamā jaṅghā śikharaṁ dviguṇaṁ bhavet .. śukāṅghriḥ pūrvavajjñeyā nirgamocchrāyakaṁ bhavet

The jangha equals that width; the spire is double. The shuka-anghri should be known as before; the projection equals the height.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.47.18)

मण्डपे मानमेतत्तु स्वरूपं चापरं वदे ।। त्रैवेदं कारयेत्क्षेत्रं यत्र तिष्ठन्ति देवताः

maṇḍape mānametattu svarūpaṁ cāparaṁ vade .. traivedaṁ kārayetkṣetraṁ yatra tiṣṭhanti devatāḥ

This is the measure for the pavilion; now I speak of another form. One should construct that threefold sacred enclosure where the deities dwell.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.47.19)

इत्थं कृतेन मानेन बाह्यभागविनिर्गतम् ।। नेमिः पादेन विस्तीर्णा प्रासादस्य समन्ततः

itthaṁ kṛtena mānena bāhyabhāgavinirgatam .. nemiḥ pādena vistīrṇā prāsādasya samantataḥ

With the measure thus made, extending from the outer portion, the nemi-moulding, a quarter-part wide, runs all around the temple.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.47.20)

गर्भं तु द्विगुणं कुर्य्यान्नेम्या मानं भवेदिह ।। स एव भित्तेरुत्सेधो शिखरो द्विगुणो मतः

garbhaṁ tu dviguṇaṁ kuryyānnemyā mānaṁ bhavediha .. sa eva bhitterutsedho śikharo dviguṇo mataḥ

The sanctum should be made double; from this, the nemi's measure is here determined. That same measure gives the wall's height, and the spire is held to be double that.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.47.21)

प्रासादानां च वक्ष्यामि मानं योनिं च मानतः ।। वैराजः पुष्पकाख्यश्च कैलासो मालिकाह्वयः

prāsādānāṁ ca vakṣyāmi mānaṁ yoniṁ ca mānataḥ .. vairājaḥ puṣpakākhyaśca kailāso mālikāhvayaḥ

I shall now speak of the measure and the types of temples, according to their measure. Vairaja, that called Pushpaka, Kailasa, that named Malika,

Verse 22 (garuda.1.47.22)

त्रिविष्टपं च पञ्चैते प्रासादाः सर्वयोनयः ।। प्रथमश्चतुरश्रो हि द्वितीयस्तु तदायतः

triviṣṭapaṁ ca pañcaite prāsādāḥ sarvayonayaḥ .. prathamaścaturaśro hi dvitīyastu tadāyataḥ

and Trivishtapa — these five embrace every type of temple. The first is square, the second elongated from that,

Verse 23 (garuda.1.47.23)

वृत्तो वृत्तायतश्चान्योऽष्टाश्रश्चेह च पञ्चमः ।। एतेभ्य एव सम्भूताः प्रासादाः सुमनोहराः

vṛtto vṛttāyataścānyo'ṣṭāśraśceha ca pañcamaḥ .. etebhya eva sambhūtāḥ prāsādāḥ sumanoharāḥ

round, and round-elongated is another, and here the octagonal is the fifth. From these arise temples of great beauty,

Verse 24 (garuda.1.47.24)

सर्वप्रकृतिभूतेभ्यश्चत्वारिंशत्तथैव च ।। मेरुश्च मन्दरश्चैव विमानश्च तथापरः

sarvaprakṛtibhūtebhyaścatvāriṁśattathaiva ca .. meruśca mandaraścaiva vimānaśca tathāparaḥ

and from all these basic forms, forty sub-types also arise. Meru, then Mandara, and another, Vimana,

Verse 25 (garuda.1.47.25)

भद्रकः सर्वता भद्रो रुचको नन्दनस्तथा ।। नन्दिवर्द्धनसंज्ञश्च श्रीवत्सश्च नवेत्यमी

bhadrakaḥ sarvatā bhadro rucako nandanastathā .. nandivarddhanasaṁjñaśca śrīvatsaśca navetyamī

Bhadraka, Sarvatobhadra, Rucaka, and Nandana, that called Nandivardhana, and Shrivatsa — these nine,

Verse 26 (garuda.1.47.26)

चतुरश्राः समुद्भूता वैराजादिति गम्यताम् ।। वलभी गृहराजश्च शालागृहं च मन्दिरम्

caturaśrāḥ samudbhūtā vairājāditi gamyatām .. valabhī gṛharājaśca śālāgṛhaṁ ca mandiram

square in form, arise from the Vairaja type — thus it should be understood. Valabhi, Grihraja, Shalagriha, and Mandira,

Verse 27 (garuda.1.47.27)

विमानं च तथा ब्रह्ममन्दिरं भवनं तथा ।। उत्तम्भं शिबिका वेश्म नवैते पुष्पकोद्भवाः

vimānaṁ ca tathā brahmamandiraṁ bhavanaṁ tathā .. uttambhaṁ śibikā veśma navaite puṣpakodbhavāḥ

Vimana, and Brahma-mandira, Bhavana, Utstambha, and Shibika-veshma — these nine arise from the Pushpaka type.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.47.28)

वलयो दुन्दुभिः पद्मो महापद्मस्तथापरः ।। मुकुली चास्य उष्णीषी शङ्खश्च कलशस्तथा

valayo dundubhiḥ padmo mahāpadmastathāparaḥ .. mukulī cāsya uṣṇīṣī śaṅkhaśca kalaśastathā

Valaya, Dundubhi, Padma, and another, Mahapadma, Mukuli and its companion Ushnishi, Shankha, and Kalasha —

Verse 29 (garuda.1.47.29)

गुवावृक्षस्तथान्यश्च वृत्ताः कैलाशसम्भवाः ।। गजोऽथ वृषभो हंसो गरुडः सिंहनामकः

guvāvṛkṣastathānyaśca vṛttāḥ kailāśasambhavāḥ .. gajo'tha vṛṣabho haṁso garuḍaḥ siṁhanāmakaḥ

and Guvavriksha is another — these round forms arise from the Kailasa type. Gaja, then Vrishabha, Hamsa, Garuda, that named Simha,

Verse 30 (garuda.1.47.30)

भूमुखो भूधरश्चैव श्रीजयः पृथिवीधरः ।। वृत्तायताः समुद्भूता नवैते मणिकाह्वयात्

bhūmukho bhūdharaścaiva śrījayaḥ pṛthivīdharaḥ .. vṛttāyatāḥ samudbhūtā navaite maṇikāhvayāt

Bhumukha and Bhudhara, Shrijaya, Prithvidhara — round-elongated in form, these nine arise from the Malika type.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.47.31)

वज्रं चक्रं तथान्यच्च मुष्टिकं वभ्रुसंज्ञितम् ।। वक्रः स्वस्तिकखड्गौ च गदा श्रीवृक्ष एव च

vajraṁ cakraṁ tathānyacca muṣṭikaṁ vabhrusaṁjñitam .. vakraḥ svastikakhaḍgau ca gadā śrīvṛkṣa eva ca

Vajra, Chakra, and another, Mushtika, that called Vabhru, Vakra and Svastika-khadga, Gada, and Shrivriksha too,

Verse 32 (garuda.1.47.32)

विजयो नामतः श्वेतस्त्रिविष्टिपसमुद्भवाः ।। त्रिकोणं पद्ममर्द्धेन्दुश्चतुष्कोणं द्विरष्टकम्

vijayo nāmataḥ śvetastriviṣṭipasamudbhavāḥ .. trikoṇaṁ padmamarddhenduścatuṣkoṇaṁ dviraṣṭakam

and one named Vijaya, Shveta — these arise from the Trivishtapa type. Triangular, lotus-shaped, half-moon, four-cornered, sixteen-sided —

Verse 33 (garuda.1.47.33)

यत्र तत्र विधातव्यं संस्थानं मण्डपस्य तु ।। राज्यं च विभवश्चैवः ह्यायुर्वर्द्वनमेव च

yatra tatra vidhātavyaṁ saṁsthānaṁ maṇḍapasya tu .. rājyaṁ ca vibhavaścaivaḥ hyāyurvardvanameva ca

wherever suitable, the plan of the pavilion should be shaped accordingly. Sovereignty, prosperity, and increase of lifespan,

Verse 34 (garuda.1.47.34)

पुत्रलाभः स्त्रियः पुष्टिस्त्रिकोणादिक्रमाद्भवेत् ।। कुर्य्याद्धजादिकं ख्यातद्वारि गर्भगृहं तथा

putralābhaḥ striyaḥ puṣṭistrikoṇādikramādbhavet .. kuryyāddhajādikaṁ khyātadvāri garbhagṛhaṁ tathā

the gaining of sons, and the health of women arise, in order, from the triangular and other shapes. A well-known flag-pillar and the like should be raised at the doorway, and likewise the sanctum-chamber.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.47.35)

मण्डपः समसंख्याभिर्गुणितः सूत्रकस्तथा ।। मण्डपस्य चतुर्थांशाद्भद्रः कार्य्यो विजानता

maṇḍapaḥ samasaṁkhyābhirguṇitaḥ sūtrakastathā .. maṇḍapasya caturthāṁśādbhadraḥ kāryyo vijānatā

The pavilion, multiplied by equal numbers, also yields the central axis. From a quarter part of the pavilion, the one who knows should construct the projecting bay.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.47.36)

स्पर्धागवाक्षकोपेतो निर्गवाक्षोऽथ वा भवेत् ।। सार्द्धभित्तिप्रमाणेन भितिमानेन वा पुनः

spardhāgavākṣakopeto nirgavākṣo'tha vā bhavet .. sārddhabhittipramāṇena bhitimānena vā punaḥ

It may be furnished with matching lattice-windows, or else be without windows at all — by a measure one-and-a-half times the wall's own thickness, or else by the wall's own measure,

Verse 37 (garuda.1.47.37)

भित्तेर्द्वैगुण्यतो वापि कर्त्तव्या मण्डपाः क्वचित् ।। प्रासादे मञ्चरी कार्य्या चित्रा विषमभूमिका

bhitterdvaiguṇyato vāpi karttavyā maṇḍapāḥ kvacit .. prāsāde mañcarī kāryyā citrā viṣamabhūmikā

or else by double the wall's thickness — pavilions may sometimes be built in this way. In the temple, a tiered gallery of varied and uneven levels should be made,

Verse 38 (garuda.1.47.38)

परिमाणविरोधेन रेखावैषम्यभूषिता ।। आधारस्तु चतुर्द्धारश्चतुर्मण्डपशोभितः

parimāṇavirodhena rekhāvaiṣamyabhūṣitā .. ādhārastu caturddhāraścaturmaṇḍapaśobhitaḥ

deliberately varied in proportion and adorned with the unevenness of its lines. The base should have four doors, adorned with four pavilions,

Verse 39 (garuda.1.47.39)

शतश्रृङ्गसमायुक्तो मेरुः प्रासाद उत्तमः ।। मण्डपास्तस्य कर्त्तव्या भद्रैस्त्रिभिरलङ्कृताः

śataśrṛṅgasamāyukto meruḥ prāsāda uttamaḥ .. maṇḍapāstasya karttavyā bhadraistribhiralaṅkṛtāḥ

furnished with a hundred spires — such a temple, named Meru, is the finest of all. Its pavilions should be made adorned with three projecting bays.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.47.40)

गठनाकारमानानां भिन्नाभिन्ना भवन्ति ते ।। कियन्तो येषु चाधारा निराधाराश्च केचन

gaṭhanākāramānānāṁ bhinnābhinnā bhavanti te .. kiyanto yeṣu cādhārā nirādhārāśca kecana

According to the shape and measure of their construction, they turn out varied or uniform. Some have a base-plinth, and some have none at all.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.47.41)

प्रतिच्छन्दकभेदेन प्रासादाः सम्भवन्ति ते ।। अन्योन्यासंस्करास्तेषां घटनानामभेदतः

praticchandakabhedena prāsādāḥ sambhavanti te .. anyonyāsaṁskarāsteṣāṁ ghaṭanānāmabhedataḥ

Temples arise through the variation of their models alone. Through differences in their construction, one differs from another.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.47.42)

देवतानां विशेषाय प्रासादा बहवः स्मृताः ।। प्रासादे नियमो नास्ति देवतानां स्वयम्भुवाम्

devatānāṁ viśeṣāya prāsādā bahavaḥ smṛtāḥ .. prāsāde niyamo nāsti devatānāṁ svayambhuvām

For the sake of distinguishing among the deities, many kinds of temples are prescribed; but for temples of self-manifest deities, there is no fixed rule.

Verse 43 (garuda.1.47.43)

तानेव देवतानां च पूर्वमानेन कारयेत् ।। चतुरश्रायतास्तत्त्र चतुष्कोणसमन्विताः

tāneva devatānāṁ ca pūrvamānena kārayet .. caturaśrāyatāstattra catuṣkoṇasamanvitāḥ

For those very deities, one should build according to the measure already stated. There, square and elongated, furnished with all four corners,

Verse 44 (garuda.1.47.44)

चन्द्रशालान्विता कार्य्या भेरीशिखरसंयुता ।। पुरतो वाहनानां च कर्त्तव्या लग्न(घु) मण्डपाः

candraśālānvitā kāryyā bherīśikharasaṁyutā .. purato vāhanānāṁ ca karttavyā lagna(ghu) maṇḍapāḥ

furnished with a moon-balcony and joined to a drum-shaped spire, it should be built. In front, small pavilions should be made for the deities' vehicles.

Verse 45 (garuda.1.47.45)

नाट्यशाला च कर्त्तव्या द्वारदेशसमाश्रया ।। प्रसादे देवतानां च कार्य्या दिक्षु विदिक्ष्वपि

nāṭyaśālā ca karttavyā dvāradeśasamāśrayā .. prasāde devatānāṁ ca kāryyā dikṣu vidikṣvapi

A dance-hall should also be built close by the doorway. In the temple, shrines for the other deities should be made in the cardinal and intermediate directions too.

Verse 46 (garuda.1.47.46)

द्वारपालाश्च कर्त्तव्या मुख्या गत्वा पृथक् पृथक् ।। किञ्चिददूरतः कार्य्या मठास्तत्रोपजीविनाम्

dvārapālāśca karttavyā mukhyā gatvā pṛthak pṛthak .. kiñcidadūrataḥ kāryyā maṭhāstatropajīvinām

The principal doorkeepers should each be placed separately in their own positions. A little further off, monasteries should be built for those who live in dependence on the temple.

Verse 47 (garuda.1.47.47)

प्रावृता जगती कार्य्या फलपुष्पजलान्विता ।। प्रसादेषु सुरांस्थाप्य पूजाभिः पूजयेन्नरः ।। वासुदेवः सर्वदेवः सर्वभाक् तद्गृहादिकृत्

prāvṛtā jagatī kāryyā phalapuṣpajalānvitā .. prasādeṣu surāṁsthāpya pūjābhiḥ pūjayennaraḥ .. vāsudevaḥ sarvadevaḥ sarvabhāk tadgṛhādikṛt

An enclosed courtyard, furnished with fruit, flowers, and water, should be built. Having installed the gods in the temples, a person should worship them with due rites. Vasudeva is himself all the gods and partakes of all; whoever builds his house and the rest thereby attains him.