Shloka 11

Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa: Temple Proportions, Śikhara Ratios, Liṅga–Pīṭha Measures, and Auspicious Ground-Plans

Devanagari script

एतत्सामान्यमुद्दिष्टं प्रासादस्य हि लक्षणम् / लिङ्गमानमथो वक्ष्ये पीठो लिङ्गसमो भवेत्

Transliteration

etatsāmānyamuddiṣṭaṃ prāsādasya hi lakṣaṇam / liṅgamānamatho vakṣye pīṭho liṅgasamo bhavet

Translation

Dies sind die allgemeinen Merkmale, die für den prasāda (Tempel) dargelegt wurden. Nun werde ich die Maße des liṅga beschreiben; die pīṭha (Basis) soll dem liṅga an Größe gleich sein.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘सामान्यम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• सामान्यम्: general (rule/description)
• सामान्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उद्दिष्टम्: has been stated/indicated
• उद्दिष्टम्: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु) → उद्दिष्ट (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• प्रासादस्य: of the temple/palace (structure)
• प्रासादस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic; definition
• लक्षणम्: Samanaadhikarana (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सामान्यम्’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन/विवरणम्

• लिङ्ग: liṅga (icon)
• लिङ्ग: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘मान’ इत्यनेन सह समासे

• मानम्: the measurement (of the liṅga)
• मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘लिङ्गस्य मानम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अथो: now; then
• अथो: Sambandha/Avyaya (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (now/then)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall describe
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → वक्ष्ये
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पीठः: the pedestal/base
• पीठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लिङ्ग: liṅga
• लिङ्ग: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वाङ्ग; ‘सम’ इत्यनेन सह समासे

• समः: equal to
• समः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान/सम्बन्ध: ‘लिङ्गेन समः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पीठः’ इति विधेयविशेषणम्

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भवेत्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Icon and support must be in equilibrium; sacred presence is honored through correct pramāṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Sāmarasya (proportional harmony) as an expression of dharma in form; the support (adhiṣṭhāna) and the supported (ādhārya) are mutually fitting.

Application: When installing/constructing a liṅga, make the pīṭha equal in measure to the liṅga to preserve canonical balance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: garbhagriha (sanctum) and pedestal zone

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.9-10 (prāsāda layout measures); Garuda Purana 1.47.12-13 (further vertical/ornamental proportions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shiva-linga
• Prasada
• Pitha

FAQs

What is the importance of liṅga and pīṭha measurements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes proportion: after stating general temple features, it specifies that the liṅga’s dimensions guide the pedestal’s size, supporting correct ritual and architectural harmony.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse does not address the soul’s journey; it belongs to an instructional section on shrine/installation standards rather than afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For temple building or home-shrine installations, maintain proportional design—especially matching the pīṭha to the liṅga—to preserve traditional correctness and aesthetic balance.