For the origin of the idea, not the diagram, of vāstupuruṣa, see:

Bakker, Hans, 2007.  Human sacrifice (puruṣamedha), construction sacrifice and the origin of the idea of the 'man of the homestead' (vāstupuruṣa). 

Pp. 179-194 in: Jan N. Bremmer (ed.), The strange world of human sacrifice. Leuven: Peeters.

Best wishes, Asko

On 8. Mar 2024, at 2.20, Dagmar Wujastyk via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

That's a nice manuscript. Thanks, Jacob. Generally, I would like to know when such diagrams start to appear and how they connect to the text. I'm assuming textual description predates the image. Or is it quite standard for texts like the Brhatsamhitā to be illustrated/ to contain technical diagrams?

All the best,

Dagmar 

On Thu., Mar. 7, 2024, 17:12 jacob--- via INDOLOGY, <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

Hi Dagmar,

Are you only looking for the provenance of the attached image, or are
you looking for manuscript illustrations of vāstupuruṣamaṇḍalas in
general?

If you are looking for the latter, I am aware of an uninscribed example
in a 17th-century Nepalese manuscript at the Los Angeles County Museum
of Art:

https://collections.lacma.org/node/242707

Best regards,
Jacob Schmidt-Madsen

Dagmar Wujastyk via INDOLOGY skrev den 2024-03-07 23:57:
> Unfortunately Volwahsen only states "from an old Indian manual of
> architecture" - at least in the English version. I don't have a copy
> of the German version.
>
> All the best,
> Dagmar
>
> On Thu, 7 Mar 2024 at 15:51, Hock, Hans Henrich <hhhock@illinois.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> Perhaps this might help in tracking the origin of the drawing?
>>
>> Volwahsen, Andreas (1968): _Indien. Bauten der Hindus, Buddhisten
>> und Jains_. Fribourg. S. 44
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>> HHH
>>
>>> On Mar 7, 2024, at 16:25, Dagmar Wujastyk via INDOLOGY
>>> <INDOLOGY@list.indology.info> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear colleagues,
>>> We are all familiar with the diagram of the vāstupuruṣa (image
>>> attached from Volwahsen 1969). Does anyone know whether this
>>> image/diagram is found in any manuscripts of the Bṛhatsamhitā
>>> (or another work?) or whether this is a modern drawing (perhaps by
>>> Kramrisch)? If this image occurs on manuscripts, can anyone tell
>>> me the date(s) of such manuscripts or any other information on
>>> them?
>>> Any pointer would be welcome.
>>> Many thanks,
>>> Dagmar Wujastyk
>>> <73821_0043.jpg>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> INDOLOGY mailing list
>>> INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
>>>
>>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology__;!!DZ3fjg!5W8YQcXG-N5v-_iz2MDtVxSKFqPla7d2iJP6lTT7JwZ6_PDNaLPhXhDTKPkH-_fYFPYTYEdwDNG7aEt780uhlofPXSBd$
>
> _______________________________________________
> INDOLOGY mailing list
> INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology

_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology

_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology

_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology