Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
चतुःषष्टिपदो ब्रह्मा मरीच्याद्याश् च देवताः चतुःपञ्चाशत्पदिका आपाद्यष्टौ रसाग्निभिः
catuḥṣaṣṭipado brahmā marīcyādyāś ca devatāḥ catuḥpañcāśatpadikā āpādyaṣṭau rasāgnibhiḥ
وزن «برهما» (chandas) يتألف من أربعٍ وستين وحدة مقطعية، وكذلك الآلهة التي تبدأ بمريچي (Marīci). وأما الوزن المسمّى Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā فله أربعٌ وخمسون وحدة؛ ويُستكمل العدّ بإضافة ثمانٍ اعتمادًا على الشفرة العددية «رَسا» و«أَغني» (rasa=6 وagni=3 كإطار تذكيري للعدّ).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prosodic enumeration of syllable-counts (pada/akṣara units) for named metres and use of bhūta-saṅkhyā (rasa, agni) as mnemonic counting aids in chandas/mantra composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Chandas Counts: Brahmā (64) and Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā (54) with Bhūta-saṅkhyā Mnemonics","lookup_keywords":["chandas","Brahmā metre","Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā","bhūta-saṅkhyā","rasa agni numbers"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives syllabic-unit totals for specific metres and indicates mnemonic completion using number-codes like rasa and agni. It supports accurate metrical construction and mantra/chandas recitation discipline."}
Concept: Knowledge is stabilized through saṅkhyā (number), nāma (technical naming), and smṛti-aids (mnemonics).
Application: Compose/verify metres and mantra-verses by fixed counts; use bhūta-saṅkhyā codes to remember numerical targets during teaching and recitation.
Khanda Section: Chandas & Mantra-vidya (Prosody / Metre enumeration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher enumerates syllable counts on a palm-leaf manuscript: headings ‘Brahmā—64’ and ‘Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā—54’; beside them a mnemonic chart showing rasa=6 and agni=3 used for counting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru and disciples in a temple-school setting; palm-leaf manuscript with large numerals; stylized flames for agni and a circle of ‘rasas’ icons; warm ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: seated guru with manuscript, gold-highlighted numerals 64 and 54; symbolic agni flames in gold; ornate frame, devotional scholastic mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional board-like manuscript page; clear akṣara counting marks; small icons for rasa and agni as mnemonic; refined linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly scholar teaching prosody; detailed manuscript with marginalia; tiny illustrations of flames (agni) and aesthetic emblems (rasa); precise calligraphy and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-contemplative","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catuḥṣaṣṭipado → catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi-padaḥ; marīcyādyāś → marīci-ādyāḥ; catuḥpañcāśatpadikā → catuḥ-pañcāśat-padikāḥ; āpādyaṣṭau → āpādya aṣṭau; rasāgnibhiḥ → rasa-agnibhiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana chandas/prastāra sections (within/around 93); Agni Purana mantra-vidyā portions where chandas is prerequisite
FAQs
It imparts chandas-vidyā: identifying specific metres by their syllabic/metrical unit counts (e.g., ‘Brahmā’ as 64-unit, ‘Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā’ as 54-unit) and using mnemonic numerical codes (rasa/agni) for counting.
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves technical śāstra material—here, Sanskrit prosody and mnemonic number-coding—showing its scope across linguistic sciences used for composing and transmitting mantras and poetry.
Correct chandas supports accurate recitation and composition; in traditional practice, metrical precision is treated as safeguarding mantra efficacy and preserving the integrity (śuddhi) of sacred transmission.