39 - Preparations of ground for constructing temples 

Hayagriva said:

1. O Brahman! Listen to me speaking about the installation of images of) Vishnu and others. (The principles of) Pancardtra¹ and Sapiaratra have (already) been described by me. 

2-5. They have been divided by the sages into twentyfive (books) in this world. Hayasirsha tantra is the first one. Trailokyamohana, Vaibhava, Pauskara, Prahlada, Görgya, Gálava, Näradiya, Sriprašna, Sandilya, Aisvara, spoken by Satya, Saunaka, Vasistha, Jnanasāgara, Svayambhuva, Kapila, Tarksya, Nārāyaniyaka, Atreya, Narasimha, Ananda, Aruna, Baudhāyana, and the one spoken by Viśva as the quintessence of that (the preceding), having eight parts (or the other books). 

1. The word rätra means knowledge and the Panchardira means the collective knowledge of five kinds according to the Nar. Sam. I.l. 

However, the Ahir, Sam. the earliest text of this class of literature would take it to mean the fivefold manifestation of Lord Vasudeva, viz. Para, vyúha, vibhava, archa and antar yamin. 

6-7. A brahmin born in the middle country may perform installation (rite). Those who were born in Kaccha (Cutch), (in the regions of the river) Kaveri, Konkaņa, Kamarūpa, Kalinga, Kanchi, Kaśmira, Kosalashould not (do installation). The sky, wind, radiance, water, and earth are the pañcharátra. 

8. Those other than the pañcharátra are inanimate and engulfed in darkness. He is the preceptor who has the knowledge “I am brahman and stainless Vishņu”. 

9. Even though deficient in all characteristics he who is a master of the tantras is (to be looked upon as) the preceptor. The image of the deityshould be placed facing the city and never turned backwards. 

10. At Kurukshetra, Gaya and other places and near the rivers, (the image of) Brahmä at the centre of the city and (the image of) Indra on the east are auspicious. 

11-12. (Thc images) of Agni, mothers, goblins, and Yama (should be placed) in the south-east. (The images) of Chandikā (should be placed) in the south and those of the manes and demons in the south-west. The temples of Varuna and othersshould be built in the west. (The images) of Väyu and Naga (serpent) (should be) on the north-west and those of Yaksha and Guha (Kårttikeya) on the north. 

13-15. (Those) of Chandiśa (the lord of Chandi), the great lord and Vishņu (are) always (placed) in the north-east. Oneshould not knowingly construct a temple of a reduced size or equal in size or bigger in size than another temple already constructed so as to encroach upon it. A wise-man would leave between them a space measuring twice the elevation and erect a new temple without affecting both the temples. After having examined the ground one has to take possession of it. 

16. The offerings to the (presiding) goblinsshould be offered upto the outer enclosing wall (with a mixture of) black gram, turmeric powder, fried grains, curd and flour. 

17-18. Having dropped the flour in all directions along with (the recitation of) eight syllables: (one has to say), "The demons and goblins who remain on this ground may go away. I am inaking a place for Hari." Having cleaved the earth with the plough oneshould cleave it with oxen. 

19. Eight Paramánus make one rathaņu. Eight rathāņus are said to make one trasareņu. Eight times that (makes) one bålägra and eight times that is known as likhyd. Eight times that is known as yūka. Eight times that is a yavamadhyama. Eight times yava (makes) one angula. Twenty-four angulas (make) one kara. Four angulas make one padmahastaka.