Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

prāsādānāṃ ca vakṣyāmi mānaṃ yoniṃ ca mānataḥ / vairājaḥ puṣpakākhyaśca kailāso mālikāhvayaḥ

Translation

प्रासादानां मानं योनिं च मानतः वक्ष्यामि; वैराजः पुष्पकाख्यः कैलासो मालिकाह्वयश्च।

Word by Word

• प्रासादानाम्: of palaces/temples
• प्रासादानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall describe
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मानम्: measure
• मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• योनिम्: type/origin (yoni)
• योनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• मानतः: according to measure
• मानतः: Hetu/Pramana (Basis/measure-wise)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मानतः (अव्यय; मान-तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• वैराजः: Vairāja (name)
• वैराजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुष्पकाख्यः: Puṣpaka-named (one)
• पुष्पकाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्पक (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (आ-ख्या धातु/आख्य-प्रातिपदिक ‘named’; कृदन्त/विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘पुष्पक-आख्यः’ (named Puṣpaka)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• कैलासः: Kailāsa (name)
• कैलासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मालिकाह्वयः: Mālikā-called (one)
• मालिकाह्वयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालिका (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (आ-ह्वे धातु/आह्वय-प्रातिपदिक ‘called’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘मालिका-आह्वयः’ (called Mālikā)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic knowledge (māna and yoni) organizes sacred architecture into intelligible classes.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma–rūpa ordering: names and forms as structured manifestations within a sacred cosmology.

Application: Document and classify design variants before construction; choose an archetype (Vairāja/Puṣpaka/Kailāsa/Mālikā) appropriate to site, patronage, and ritual needs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śilpa-śāstra discourse setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.47.22-23 (five yoni-forms and shapes); Garuda Purana 1.47.19-20 (measurement rules)

Characters & Entities

• Vairāja
• Puṣpaka
• Kailāsa
• Mālikā

FAQs

What is the importance of prāsāda-māna (temple measurements) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames temple design as a dhārmic science: prāsādas are classified by precise proportions and plan-types (yoni), implying that correct measurement is essential to a properly consecrated sacred space.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it shifts to dharma through sacred architecture—how orderly, proportionate temple spaces are defined and categorized.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that religious practice values disciplined structure: whether building a shrine/temple or organizing worship, follow authentic guidelines and proportional harmony rather than improvisation.