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The Orientation of the Extant Temples
285 have their full pay. It has been observed that ultra-violet radiation has received more attention than the visible and infra-red radiation, owing to the fact that it produce flourescene, photographic action and many known biological effects.
It is very significant in this phase of Indian thought that both the extremes of this eastern belt are denoted by Isa (N. E. portion) and Agni ( S. E. portion ) the counterparts of, so to say, ultra-violet or violet and Red or Infra-red radiation of the solar spectrum of the Western Science. The very names Is'a and Agni and their individual laksana which are given to these quarters from earliest times in the Indian History go to suggest that the phenomenon of refraction and diffraction (dispersion ) were well known to Indian Aryans."6
in the orientation of the temples these principles combine (1) the orientation proper, for the temple should face East, the rising sun; (2) the temples should face the centre of the settlement, the village or town, etc. (3) God in his peaceful (śānta ) image should be located in and turned towards, the habitations of men; God in his wrathful (ugra ) image should be situated outside and face away from the habitations of men.
The first consideration is primeval and remains in basis of orientation. Most of the preserved temples face the East, others the West. It is therefore, said that it is best if a temple has its door to the East and that it is good if the door is to the West. While however it is admissible that a temple faces South but it is not desirable that it should face North.? This is observed also when the second consideration prevails, for it is said that the temples in the east, should face west and those in the west should face east, and the others should face clock wise( pradakşiņa ) so that those in the north face south but those in the south should not face north.8 6. APPR. Int. p. xxi. 7. Vaikhānasāgama Ch. II. 8. Pracyām pratyaņmukhān kuryāt pranmukhāmscāmbbubhrddisi | yāmyodakpārsvayostasya Prādakṣiṇyena Vamsagān Il Sm. su. X, 112.
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