Yaagasaala

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Yaagasaala

Yaagam is performed in special thatched sheds called Yaagasaala. It consists mainly of a Mahaavedi (great hall) in which are :

Dasapadam for Homams (eastern end),
a slightly raised platform called Havirdhaanam (on the west side of Dasapadam),
a Sadass to the east of the west Saala (on the west side of Havirdhaanam),
two Upasaalaas (small sub-sheds) called Maarjaaleeyam on the south side and Agneedhriyam on the north (on the south & north sides of Havirdhaanam, respectively),
Agnihothra Saala, also called Praagwaamsam or west Saala (on the west side of Sadass), attached to which along the west boundary is the Pathneesaala (western end); and

There are many other arrangements in a Yaagasaala for specific rituals, most of which are constructed earlier on an auspicious day, but formally done during the Yaagam.

LENGTH UNITS

The units of length used for sizing the Yaagasaala are related to the height of the Yajamaanan and hence vary for each Yaagam. The basic unit is :

Dandu (pole) = the length (height) measured from the foot of the Yajamaanan to the tip of his middle finger, when he stands erect, raises and stretches both hands up.

Viral (finger) = 1 / 120 of Dandu

Prakramam (stick, "Kol") = ¼ of Dandu = 30 Virals, also approximately = twice the length of Yajamaanan's foot.

Arani = 1/5 of Dandu = 20 Virals = 0.8 Prakramam

Most of the measurements are made using a Kol or stick, one Prakramam (P) long (roughly 55 cm for a 175 cm tall Yajamaanan.

DIMENSIONS OF YAAGASAALA

Prakramam (P)= Twice the length of Yajamaanan's foot.

1.Pragwaamsam (Vimatha) : Length:16 P, Breadth:12 P & Height :12 P. Constructed east-west, it has a pillar at the middle and 2 pillars at the east & west ends with small pillars along side. It has 4 doors in 4 directions, each with 2 P width.

2.Mahaavedi : East of Pragwaamsam with a gap of 2 P; 36 P long in east-west direction, 30 P wide at the west end and narrowing to 24 P at the east end. It has an imaginary boundary.

3.Sadass : At the west end and within the Mahaasaala, 18 Arani (14.4 P) long in a north-south, and 10 Arani (8 P) wide in an east-west direction.

4.Havirdhaani : Just to the east of Sadass and 12 P square.

5.Maarjaaleeyam : A small portion to the south of Havirdhaanam.

6.Agneedhram : A small portion to the north of Havirdhaanam.

7.Utharavedi : To the east of Mahaasaala, in which the "Chithi" is to be built. This is the actual Yaagasaala.

8.Pathneesaala : (Wife's shed) A small saala at the west end with 6 P breadth and 12 P length. It has a door towards north. Has two village ovens.

9.Pasusaala : (Cow shed) (South of Praagwaamsam)

10.Aadusaala : (Lamb shed) (South of Praagwaamsam)

11.Garhapatyam
(fire place or
offering Altar) : 2 P from the west end of Pragwaamsam

12.Aahavaneeyam
(fire place or
offering altar) : 2 P from the east end of Pragwaamsam

13.Anwaaharya
(fire place or
offering Altar or
Dakshinaagni) : 4 P south of the middle pillar

Yaagasaala

| Article No:4.9.1 | Last update of this article:19th April 2003 |

Article Prepared by : P. Vinod Bhattathiripad and K.D. Nambudripad

Dandu (pole)	=	the length (height) measured from the foot of the Yajamaanan to the tip of his middle finger, when he stands erect, raises and stretches both hands up.
Viral (finger)	=	1 / 120 of Dandu
Prakramam (stick, "Kol")	=	¼ of Dandu = 30 Virals, also approximately = twice the length of Yajamaanan's foot.
Arani	=	1/5 of Dandu = 20 Virals = 0.8 Prakramam

1.Pragwaamsam		(Vimatha) : Length:16 P, Breadth:12 P & Height :12 P. Constructed east-west, it has a pillar at the middle and 2 pillars at the east & west ends with small pillars along side. It has 4 doors in 4 directions, each with 2 P width.
2.Mahaavedi	:	East of Pragwaamsam with a gap of 2 P; 36 P long in east-west direction, 30 P wide at the west end and narrowing to 24 P at the east end. It has an imaginary boundary.
3.Sadass	:	At the west end and within the Mahaasaala, 18 Arani (14.4 P) long in a north-south, and 10 Arani (8 P) wide in an east-west direction.
4.Havirdhaani	:	Just to the east of Sadass and 12 P square.
5.Maarjaaleeyam	:	A small portion to the south of Havirdhaanam.
6.Agneedhram	:	A small portion to the north of Havirdhaanam.
7.Utharavedi	:	To the east of Mahaasaala, in which the "Chithi" is to be built. This is the actual Yaagasaala.
8.Pathneesaala	:	(Wife's shed) A small saala at the west end with 6 P breadth and 12 P length. It has a door towards north. Has two village ovens.
9.Pasusaala	:	(Cow shed) (South of Praagwaamsam)
10.Aadusaala	:	(Lamb shed) (South of Praagwaamsam)
11.Garhapatyam (fire place or offering Altar)	:	2 P from the west end of Pragwaamsam
12.Aahavaneeyam (fire place or offering altar)	:	2 P from the east end of Pragwaamsam
13.Anwaaharya (fire place or offering Altar or Dakshinaagni)	:	4 P south of the middle pillar