The Symmetry of the Vedic Altars

The Vedic altar space will be found divided into the mahāvedi in the east and
the prācı̄naśāla in the west, almost as if different entities. The easternmost element
in the mahāvedi would be the yūpam pole and 1 padam (15 aṅgulam) to the west
would come the uttaravedi . As per the rules of the yajña rituals practiced today
and as found in the Baudhāyana śulbasūtram [BSS], the area of the uttaravedi would
be 7.5 square purus.am. This meant that the area would be 108,000 sq.aṅgulam,
(7.5 × 120 × 120 = 108, 000). The 3 uttaravedi shapes found most popular in the past
thousands of years and till today would be the bird altars, which are known in the
Kerala ritual circuit as the pı̄t.han, the pañcapatri and the .sad.patri . However, the
BSS stated that in the beginning and in the past, the uttaravedi shapes were simple
trapezium, triangle etc., but all of them narrowing down to the east.
It would be, however, found surprising that from nowhere came a direct expla-
nation as to why this 108,000 and why this 120 as the purus.am measure.1 Though
it is not necessary to succinctly state about the fundamentals of beliefs and rituals,
all the same, we need not discount the existence and relevance of a theory on such
fundamentals, nor do we have to hesitate to seek about such details. The first thing
that we would notice in the geometry of the uttaravedi would be that all of them
have a centre line symmetry. The complex geometrical steps mentioned in the BSS,
while formatting whatever as uttaravedi , basically were centred on this symmetry.
There was a ritualistic fervour in sticking to this symmetry.
In the śulbasūtras, the rathacakraciti s with spokes of 24 and 32 would be found
described. In the asyavāmı̄yasūkta of the Rgveda [RV], the verses 11, 12, 13, 14 and
48, described a circular formation with 12 spokes. Since the contents of geometry
of the RV and the śulbasūtras were essentially based on the shape of this universe,
a circle and its segments and sectors would naturally appear. But what we are now
seeking is not about the extent of the unit measures, but the possible principles
that stood behind these unit measures. It could be thought of that the earlier
mentioned symmetry could be based on certain fundamental principles of space and
time. Since the space was sufficiently represented by the shape of the very uttaravedi ,
the symmetry could be a superimposition of time onto the space.
Pursuing this argument, it occurred to this author that the 108,000 should have a
celestial and temporal significance. The theory and format of the rāśı̄cakra, though
conceived on the basis of the ecliptic, the zodiac and the solar system, could be also
1
That is, this author have not found.

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thought to have a universal dimension as well.2 At least, it could be thought of that,
that was the only route by which the human beings could access the universal scales.
The rāśı̄cakra of 360o with 12 divisions could be reckoned in seconds as below.
360 × 60 × 60 = 1296, 000 - seconds.
360 × 60 × 60 ÷ 12 = 108, 000 - seconds/rāśi .
Now the conclusion could be that it was this 108,000 that came as the inspiration
for making the area of the uttaravedi as 7.5 sq.purus.am. And then the question
would be that, where is it so mentioned or at least appeared to have mentioned. No
where in so many words and yet let us now visit RV1.164.48, which is as below:

“ dõ;a;d;Za :pra;Ta;ya;(ãÉa;kÒ+:mea;kM ˆa;a; a;Na na;Bya;a;a;na k o ta; a;ƒa;ke+:ta Á

ta;a;sma;ntsa;a;k
/// M ;
a:ˆa;Za;ta;a na Za;ñÍ*:öÐöÅÅ +.ea Y;
a;pRa;ta;a: :Sa;
a;;nRa . ca;l+.a;.ca;l+.a;sa:”
The above verse read along with the verses 11 to 15 of RV1.164, basically de-
scribed a rathacakraciti with multiple concentric annular rings, which in turn rep-
resented the 7 vyahr.ti s of the universe. On the other hand or along with it, the
48th verse directly pointed to a unique geometric construction. The verse essentially
brought forward the numbers 12, 3, 300 and 60. It suggested to use the number 60
variously and which permitted us the following construction.
(300 + 60) × 60 × 60 ÷ 12 = 108, 000
Once we feel certain that the idea mooted here is correct, every word of the above
verse would come alive and meaningful. It was following this line of thought that
a very beautiful geometrical construction could be made by this author. Let us see
how it would manifest. In the verse RV1.164.11, the use of numbers 100, 20 and
720 were mentioned. The methods of construction, using the ropes with loops on
ends and wooden pegs were always relevant and in fact those were perhaps the only
tools used during the Vedic times. Here, two pictures will be shown, the first being
the rāśı̄cakra complete and the second showing the basic construction methodology,
taken to a Vedic ambience.
It will be found that this unique formation was achieved by rope markings of 120,
720 and suitable manipulation of the same. In the first picture, line AB is 720 and
0
line AC is 120. Construct line AB at 30o to line AB (easily done in a computer).
0 0
Point C is also at a distance of 120 from point A. Join the line CC and mark the
2
All the same the author do not contribute to any theory of heliocentric universe, as a proposal
that came from the Veda. Here it is a powerful imagery taken from the solar system.

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 0 0
midpoint as D. Draw the lines BB , DB and line DB and lo! the area of triangle
0
DBB is 108,000. Be further surprised to notice that all the line lengths of this
triangle is irrational as well!! The show is not over; the sum of the 12 sides of the
inner circle amounted to 12 × 60 = 720 !!!

Figure 1: rāśı̄cakra

To take the method to a Vedic ambience, the diagram will be now redrawn as
follows and as shown in picture 2. Draw a line AB = 720. Make peg marks C at a
distance of 120 from A and F as the midpoint of line AB. Draw two circles as shown
with AF as radius and get the intersection point G. Draw a construction line passing
through point G, which will be at 30o to line AB. Obtain point D, with AD as 120.
Join the line CD and mark its midpoint E. With E as centre and EB as radius, draw
an arc to cut the line AG extended at I. Now draw the triangle BEI. The triangle
will return an area of 108,000!
Now the methodology of construction and the area resulted, demanded some
studies. In order that the area would be a rational quantity, and since the side BI
returned an irrational value (372.6994249476), it follows that the vertical dropped
from point E, i.e, EJ should also be of irrational value (579.5554957734). Interest-
ingly, the point J fell on the intersection of the basic circle and line BI. Therefore,

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 Figure 2: Basic Design of a segment

the question would be that will a product of such numbers manifest as a rational
quantity. Let us examine the area results (as supplied by my computer and graphic
set up).
579.5554957734 × 372.6994249476 ÷ 2 = 107999.999999984
That was the value obtained by multiplication, while the graphics gave a value
of 108000.0000000001. What was the nature of this Vedic enquiry? Briefly put, it
was a search for connecting a cosmic phenomena, arriving into a finite number and
area of 108,000, creating a semblance of rationality from a set of irrational values
and yet achieving all out of very clear and simple geometric steps. How could a so
called primitive set of Vedic people bedazzle us like this?

Parameswaran Murthiyedath
March 1, 2011