# Building from the Ground Up: The Foundation and Construction of a Kalinga Temple The construction of a [[Kalinga architecture|Kalinga temple]] was a meticulous and highly symbolic process, beginning with the laying of a strong and stable foundation. This crucial stage, which involved the creation of the *Potā* (pit) and *Piṭha* (base), was essential for supporting the massive weight of the temple and ensuring its longevity. ### The Potā and Piṭha: A Mobile Foundation The foundation of a Kalinga temple, known as **Potā** and **Piṭha**, was a complex and sophisticated system designed to create a stable base for the structure. The process involved the following steps: 1. **Excavation:** A square or rectangular pit, the **Potā**, was dug at the center of the consecrated plot of land (the *Nāgabandhani*). The depth of this pit was typically one-third of the proposed temple's total height. 2. **Leveling:** The bottom of the pit was leveled with hard stone slabs. 3. **Walling:** The four walls of the Potā were erected with uniformly cut hard stones. 4. **The Asṭadala Padma Chakaḍā:** A square or rectangular stone slab, engraved with an eight-petaled lotus, was placed at the exact center of the pit. The petals were aligned with the eight cardinal and inter-cardinal directions. The vertical axis of the temple, known as the **Sanku**, passed directly through the center of this lotus. 5. **Filling:** The Potā was then carefully packed with large stones and soil, often compacted by elephants, to create a solid and stable mass. 6. **The Piṭha:** The pit was leveled off at ground level with thick, precisely cut stones. Upon this, another layer of stones was laid out to form the **Piṭha**, the plinth or base of the temple, which corresponded to the shape and size of the temple's ground plan. ### The Bhunaksā: The Sacred Ground Plan Once the Piṭha was complete, the **Bhunaksā**, or ground plan, was engraved onto its surface. The **Sthapati** (Chief Architect) and the **Sutragrahaṇi** (Chief Engineer) would use a sharp instrument to draw the detailed plan, with the Sanku as the central point of the *Garbhagriha* (sanctum sanctorum). This ground plan was a complex geometric design, based on intricate calculations and proportions derived from the sacred texts. It was the blueprint that guided the masons, the **Bardhanikas**, in their work. ### Deula Gaddanni: Raising the Temple With the Bhunaksā in place, the **Deula Gaddanni**, or the raising of the temple, could begin. The Bardhanikas would set the pre-cut stones, layer by layer, under the strict supervision of the Sutragrahaṇi. This was a slow and painstaking process, but it was essential for ensuring the stability and structural integrity of the temple. The foundation and construction of a Kalinga temple was a remarkable feat of engineering and artistry. It was a process that was both deeply practical and profoundly symbolic, a testament to the skill, knowledge, and faith of the master builders who created these magnificent monuments.