The study of the $Na_3YSi_3O_9$ structure, by x-ray diffraction and infrared spectrum, showed that $Na_3YSi_3O_9$ is similar to $Na_4CaSi_3O_9$ except for its being pseudo-cubic instead of cubic. The peaks in the x-ray diffraction pattern of $Na_3YSi_3O_9$ could therefore be indexed on the basis of the $Na_4CaSi_3O_9$ cell. Also, modified $Na_3MSi_3O_9$ (M = Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Y, Ho, Dy, Gd, Eu, and Sm) type compounds were synthesized by introducing excess sodium, decreasing M(III) concentration, and substituting small amount of phosphorus for silicon. The unit cell parameters of the composition $Na_{3.2}M_{0.7}Si_{2.9}P_{0.1}O_{8.7}$ were estimated from x-ray powder diffraction patterns using the Cohen method.