Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
करिदन्तोद्धृतमृदा दक्षिणन्तु तथा भुजं वृषशृङ्गोद्धृतमृदा वामञ्चैव तथा भुजं
karidantoddhṛtamṛdā dakṣiṇantu tathā bhujaṃ vṛṣaśṛṅgoddhṛtamṛdā vāmañcaiva tathā bhujaṃ
يُطهَّر الذراع الأيمن بترابٍ رُفع بناب الفيل، ويُطهَّر الذراع الأيسر بترابٍ رُفع بقرن الثور.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Bhūmi-uddhāra/earth-lifting omen-mapping: interpreting directional/limb correspondences (right/left ‘arms’) through symbolic agents (elephant tusk, bull horn) for site-ritual decisions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bhūmi-uddhāra directional mapping: elephant-tusk and bull-horn indicators","lookup_keywords":["vāstu","bhūmi-uddhāra","kari-danta","vṛṣa-śṛṅga","dakṣiṇa-vāma-bhuja"],"quick_summary":"In earth-lifting rites and site-omens, earth ‘raised by elephant tusk’ marks the right side/arm, while earth ‘raised by bull horn’ marks the left—used to read and align ritual directions."}
Concept: Bandhu (correspondence): mapping terrestrial operations to a cosmic/body schema (right/left arms) via emblematic animals.
Application: During vāstu preliminaries, keep consistent right/left orientation in excavation/earth-lifting symbolism to avoid ritual inversion and to standardize site readings.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Bhūmi-uddhāra (Cosmographic and ritual directions for earth-lifting forms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vāstu ritual diagram showing a human/cosmic figure with right and left arms labeled; on the right an elephant lifts earth with its tusk, on the left a bull lifts earth with its horn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: symbolic composition with a vāstu-puruṣa-like figure faintly outlined, elephant on the right raising soil with tusk, bull on the left with horn, earthy reds and ochres, temple-ritual aesthetic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: icon-like symmetrical panel with elephant and bull flanking a central directional diagram; gold highlights on borders and ritual implements; clear right/left labeling motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical illustration style—clean diagram of right/left arms with small vignettes of elephant-tusk and bull-horn earth-lifting; instructional clarity prioritized.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: pastoral yet precise scene with elephant and bull in landscaped setting lifting soil; a scholar-priest points to a parchment diagram indicating right/left arms; fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: करिदन्तोद्धृतमृदा = करि-दन्त-उद्धृत-मृदा; दक्षिणन्तु = दक्षिणम् + तु; वृषशृङ्गोद्धृतमृदा = वृष-शृङ्ग-उद्धृत-मृदा; वामञ्चैव = वामम् + च + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (vāstu/bhūmi-uddhāra subsection)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-style directional rule: the ‘right’ and ‘left’ sides (arms/forelimbs) are identified through the traditional earth-lifting indicators—elephant-tusk lift for the right, bull-horn lift for the left.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied knowledge—here, practical directional identification used in Vāstu/ritual-cosmography and iconographic conventions linked to the earth-raising motif.
Correct directional understanding in sacred construction/ritual symbolism is treated as preserving cosmic order (ṛta), supporting purity and auspicious outcomes in consecratory acts.