Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Architecture of Sun–Moon and the ‘Houses of the Gods’

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच एतत्सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि सूर्याचन्द्रमसोर्गतिम् यथा देवगृहाणि स्युः सूर्याचन्द्रमसोस्तथा //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca etatsarvaṃ pravakṣyāmi sūryācandramasorgatim yathā devagṛhāṇi syuḥ sūryācandramasostathā //

Translation

Sūta said: “I shall explain all this—the courses of the Sun and the Moon—so that divine temples may be established in a manner consistent with the Sun and Moon.”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• etat sarvam: all this (entire subject just introduced)

• pravakṣyāmi: I will explain/expound

• sūrya-candramasoḥ: of the Sun and the Moon

• gatim: course, movement, path

• yathā: so that/as

• deva-gṛhāṇi: houses of the gods, temples

• syuḥ: may be/come to be/are to be made

• tathā: accordingly/in that very way

• (sūrya-candramasoḥ tathā): in conformity with the Sun and Moon (i.e., aligned to their motions/markers).

Speaker

• Suta Goswami (Sūta)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Chandra

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Architecture
• Astronomy
• Orientation
• Ritual Planning

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it introduces an applied cosmology—using the Sun and Moon’s motions as authoritative measures for establishing sacred structures.

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

It frames temple-building as a dharmic, rule-governed act: rulers and household patrons should sponsor and construct devagṛhas according to cosmic order (solar-lunar measures), not merely personal preference.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It signals that temple placement/orientation and planning should be aligned with solar and lunar courses—an early Vāstu principle linking sacred architecture to astronomical directionality and calendrical/ritual timing.