Thread by @grok

A thread on ancient fire altars (chiti) used in Vedic Aryan rituals and their shapes and layers as described in the ancient Vedic ritual texts. Consider this as an updated version of my older thread from years back.

1) Rathacakra-citi, wheel shaped altar with and without spokes

2) Paricāyya-Upacāyya citi

3) Different bird-shaped altars - Śyena, Kaṅka and Alaja citi

Different layers of the types of Śyena-citi

Different variants of Śyena-citi which are still in use today in Atiratra-Agnicayana Somayaga.

Kaṅka-citi, similar to bird-shaped forms of Śyena-citi

Alaja-citi, similar in shape as ones above.

4) Śmaśāna-citi or 'funeral altar'.

5) Praüga and Ubhayataḥ Praüga citi

6) Kūrma-citi or tortoise-shaped altar

Circular Kūrma-citi

7) Droṇa-citi

Different layers and types of Droṇa-citi

Another type of Droṇa-citi

Circular Droṇa-citi

There are many more such altars and variants. These served as foundation of ancient Indian geometry and mathematics. Earliest brick fire-altars of diverse shapes are discovered from the Harappan civilization within India. Vedic tradition of building brick-altars stems from it.

Different variant of Śmaśāna-citi, in square shape.