When an auspicious ascendant appears in the heavens, graced by benefic planets and supported by favorable influences, and especially when joined by Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury, it bestows great strength and longevity upon the devotee. In such a chart, sovereignty, valor, power, sons, fame, virtue, and many other blessings may be found. The first, seventh, fourth, and tenth houses are called the angles, and it is in these places that Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury grant all manner of accomplishments. Even planets normally considered malefic, if positioned in the third, eleventh, or fourth from the ascendant, become sources of auspiciousness. For actions not related to exalted states, the wise are advised to employ tithis and similar measures, setting aside the fivefold measure of the site or considering it merely as wealth. When preparing for a sacred rite, the pavilion should be constructed twelve steps from the hand, square in shape, with four doors. If a pavilion is needed for bathing, it should be half this size. The pavilion itself may have one or four faces, or appear fierce, oriented toward the east or north. An elephantine pavilion measures ten hands, but it may be constructed according to need. To the north, two hands are added in length, and in total, there should be eight pavilions. At the center, a four-sided altar is established, joined with a corner pillar. Space should be left between the altar’s feet, and there may be nine, five, or just one fire-pit, set on a wooden platform for Shiva, or to the east, as the teacher prescribes. The size of the fire-pit is determined by the number of offerings: for one hundred and fifty, it should be the size of a fist; for one hundred, the measure of a finger; for one thousand, the size of a hand; for ten thousand, two hands. For one hundred thousand offerings, the fire-pit is four-sided; for a crore, it should be eight hands wide. The shape of the pit varies: in the east, it is crescent like the moon; in the south, triangular; in the west, six-sided; in the north, lotus-shaped; and for Shiva, eight-sided, dug obliquely with a raised embankment. Outside this, three embankments are constructed, each the width of a finger for the Vedic fire, or six fingers wide, or even just one, all shaped like the fire-pit itself. Above these, the yoni is placed in the center, shaped like a peepal leaf, one finger in height and eight fingers wide. Its length is half the measure of the fire-pit, and its base matches the neck of the pit. For the eastern, southern, and southwestern fire-pits, the yoni faces north; for others, it faces east, or for two, northeast. The twenty-fourth part of the fire-pit is known as a finger. The gateways are made from plaksha, udumbara, ashvattha, and banyan trees, each named in order: peace, spirit, strength, health, and so on. They are five, six, or seven hands in length, placed a hand’s distance apart, with half that width, and adorned with mango leaves and other decorations. Banners are set up, curved like Indra’s bow and colored red, black, smoky, moon-bright, white, golden, and crystal-like. From the east, the flags are red; from the south, blue, belonging to Nirṛti. Each flag is five hands in length and half as wide, long and broad, with staffs measuring five hands, made from an anthill, the tip of an elephant’s tusk, or the horn of a bull. Twelve portions of clay are gathered: from a lotus cluster, from a boar, from a cowshed, and from a crossroads; eight are used for Vaikuṇṭha and for Pinākin. Five astringent substances are collected from the bark of banyan, udumbara, ashvattha, mango, and jambu trees, along with eight kinds of seasonal fruits. Fragrant waters from sacred places, as well as water from all medicinal plants, are brought for the rituals. The proper flowers and fruits are gathered, along with water from gems and cow horns. For bathing, five items are required, as well as the nectar of five products from the cow. Substances made from flour and cloth are used for purification. A pot with a thousand holes is prepared, as well as rocanā for the maṇḍala, and roots from a hundred medicinal herbs—vijayā, lakṣmaṇā, and balā. Other roots like guḍūcī, atibalā, pāṭhā, sahadevā, and śatāvarī are collected, along with ṛddhi and suvarcasā, each prescribed for bathing. For protection, heaps of sesame and darbha grass are gathered, and bathing with ashes is performed. Powders of barley, wheat, and bael are also used. For anointing, camphor is chosen, and for bathing, the sides of the pot are used. A bed is arranged, with a pair of pillows, a cushion, and a cloth, all according to the devotee’s means. A vessel mixed with ghee and honey is prepared, along with a golden stick. A nourishing Śiva pot is made, as well as pots for the guardians of the world, one for sleep, and others for peace, according to the number of kuṇḍas. Additional pots are set for the doorkeepers, for dharma, for peace, for Vāstu, Lakṣmī, and Gaṇeśa, and for other purposes. Containers made from heaps of grain are adorned with cloth and garlands, filled with gold, sprinkled, and filled with fragrant water. Other containers are filled with fruits, vessels with leaves and auspicious marks; the pots are covered with cloths, and white mustard seeds are brought. For scattering, roasted rice is gathered, and the sword of knowledge is invoked as before. A vessel for oblation with a lid and a copper ladle are prepared. Another vessel mixed with ghee and honey is used for anointing the feet. Mats made from three hundred darbha blades, measured by the arm, are laid out. Four-sided and square mats are made from palāśa leaves. Vessels for sesame, for oblation, a half-vessel, and a purifier are set out. Twenty-eight items are assembled: a pot for offering incense, ladles, a basket, a seat, a fan, and dry fuel. Flowers, leaves, guggul resin, lamps fueled with ghee, incense, unbroken rice, triple-threaded cords, cow’s ghee, barley, and sesame seeds are gathered. Kusha grass for purification, the three sweet substances, ten sticks of fuel, a ladle the length of an arm, and a hand for the ritual of appeasing the Sun and other planets are all made ready. The fuel sticks are to be taken from arka, palasha, khadira, amra, pippala, udumbara, shami, durva, and kusha—one hundred and eight in total—thus preparing the sacred space, materials, and implements for the auspicious rites to come.