Bhadrapīṭha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Bhadrapītha literally means ‘the auspicious pedestal’.
A pīṭha is a pedestal for an icon. Out of the four varieties mentioned in iconographical works, bhadrapīṭha is one, the other three being padmapīṭha, vedikā and parimaṇḍala.
If the height of the pedestal is sixteen units accommodated in eight parts, then, it is called ‘bhadrapītha’. The parts are reckoned from the bottom to the top. Their measurements are as follows:
| 1 | Upāna | 1 Unit |
| 2 | Jagatī | 4 Units |
| 3 | Kumuda | 3 Units |
| 4 | Kampa | 1 Unit |
| 5 | Kaṅṭha | 3 Units |
| 6 | Kampa | 1 Unit |
| 7 | Paṭṭikā | 2 Units |
| 8 | Ghṛtavāri | 1 Unit |
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore