Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थोदुम्बरप्लक्षवटशाखाकृतानि तु मण्डपस्य प्रतिदिशं द्वाराण्येतानि कारयेत् //

Transliteration

aśvatthodumbaraplakṣavaṭaśākhākṛtāni tu maṇḍapasya pratidiśaṃ dvārāṇyetāni kārayet //

Translation

Für den maṇḍapa soll man in jeder Himmelsrichtung Tore anfertigen lassen, die (symbolisch/ornamental) in der Gestalt von Zweigen der aśvattha (heiligen Feige), udumbara (Traubenfeige), plakṣa und vaṭa (Banyan) gestaltet sind.

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थ (aśvattha): sacred fig

• उदुम्बर (udumbara): cluster fig

• प्लक्ष (plakṣa): plaksha tree (a sacred fig-type tree)

• वट (vaṭa): banyan

• शाखा (śākhā): branch

• आकृतानि (ākṛtāni): made in the form/shape (ornamented as)

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• मण्डपस्य (maṇḍapasya): of the mandapa (pillared hall)

• प्रतिदिशं (pratidiśaṃ): in each direction

• द्वाराणि (dvārāṇi): doorways/entrances

• एतानि (etāni): these

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be made/should construct

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Aśvattha
• Udumbara
• Plakṣa
• Vaṭa
• Maṇḍapa

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Mandapa
• Temple Architecture
• Ritual Design
• Sacred Trees

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s Vastuvidya material, prescribing architectural details for a mandapa.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports the king’s/householder’s dharma of building and maintaining sacred and public religious structures correctly—following prescribed forms believed to ensure auspiciousness and ritual fitness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies that the mandapa should have entrances in each direction, with doorway ornamentation shaped like branches of four sacred trees—suggesting directional completeness and auspicious vegetal symbolism in temple/ritual architecture.