Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 35
Śrīrāmāvatāravarṇanam (Description of Śrī Rāma’s Incarnation) — Ayodhyā Abhiṣeka, Vanavāsa, Daśaratha’s Death, Bharata’s Regency
वास्तुपूजान्ततः कृत्वा स्थिता मन्दाकिनीतटे सीतायै दर्शयामास चित्रकूटञ्च राघवः
vāstupūjāntataḥ kṛtvā sthitā mandākinītaṭe sītāyai darśayāmāsa citrakūṭañca rāghavaḥ
وبعد أن أتمَّ عبادة الفاستو (Vāstu-pūjā) على الوجه اللائق، وبينما كان مقيماً على ضفة نهر ماندَاكيني (Mandākinī)، أرى راغهافا (Rāghava) سيتا (Sītā) جبل تشيتراكوطا (Citrakūṭa) أيضاً.
Lord Agni (narrating purāṇic material in the Agni Purana’s discourse framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Performing Vāstu-pūjā before settling at a site; orienting habitation/āśrama-space as ritually fit and auspicious, especially near sacred waters and hills.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-pūjā completion and auspicious site-setting (Mandākinī–Citrakūṭa)","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-pūjā","Mandākinī","Citrakūṭa","site orientation","āśrama-sthāpanā"],"quick_summary":"After completing Vāstu-worship, one may reside at an auspicious riverside location; sacred geography (riverbank and mountain) is treated as ritually supportive for dwelling and dharma-practice."}
Concept: Ritual sanctification of space (vāstu-śuddhi) precedes rightful dwelling and conduct.
Application: Before building/occupying a home, hermitage, or ritual pavilion, perform site-pūjā and choose a sattvic environment (clean water, stable ground, auspicious surroundings).
Khanda Section: Vāstu–Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual preliminaries and sacred-site orientation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River/Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma, after completing a Vāstu-worship rite, stands with Sītā on the Mandākinī riverbank and gestures toward the wooded slopes of Citrakūṭa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, Rāma and Sītā in forest attire by a flowing river, small ritual altar with offerings indicating vāstu-pūjā, Citrakūṭa hill in the background, stylized foliage, serene devotional ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Rāma and Sītā with subtle gold ornamentation and halo-like prabhā, river Mandākinī rendered as decorative bands, Citrakūṭa as a gilded hill motif, small pūjā setup with lamps and kalasha, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional clarity: pūjā items (kalasha, flowers, incense) near the couple, Rāma pointing to Citrakūṭa, labeled-like compositional neatness, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with riverbank flora, Rāma and Sītā in refined garments, attendants minimal, Citrakūṭa hill with layered rocks and trees, delicate architectural-like pūjā platform, naturalistic water rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वास्तुपूजान्ततः = वास्तु-पूजा-अन्ततः (अव्ययीभाव, तसिल्); चित्रकूटञ्च = चित्रकूटम् + च; मन्दाकिनीतटे = मन्दाकिनी-तटे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vāstu-lakṣaṇa and gṛha-praveśa/vāstu-śānti sections (vāstu-vidyā chapters); Agni Purana: tīrtha-māhātmya style passages (where present)
FAQs
It highlights the completion of Vāstu-pūjā—ritual propitiation/purification connected with dwelling-site or sacred space—before residing at a place, implying that habitation and sacred orientation follow proper site-rites.
It blends ritual-technical material (Vāstu worship as a procedural prerequisite) with epic-sacred geography (Mandākinī, Citrakūṭa, Rāma–Sītā), demonstrating how the Agni Purana interweaves manuals of practice with cultural exemplars and tīrtha context.
Completing Vāstu-pūjā before settling in a location signifies purification and harmonization with the presiding powers of the site, supporting auspiciousness, removal of obstacles, and merit through orderly observance of dharmic rites.