Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 80
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
मायापदेशशक्त्यन्तन्तुर्याशाष्टांशवर्तुलं तत्रात्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यं शिवं सृष्टिक्रमण तु
māyāpadeśaśaktyantanturyāśāṣṭāṃśavartulaṃ tatrātmatattvavidyākhyaṃ śivaṃ sṛṣṭikramaṇa tu
عند ذروة القوّة المسمّاة «مايا» يقع «الدائرة» المؤلَّفة من الجزء السادس عشر من «تورِيّا»؛ وهناك ينبغي إدراك شِيفا—المعروف باسم «معرفة مبدأ الذات» (ātma-tattva-vidyā)—وفق تسلسل الخلق (sṛṣṭi-krama).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Subtle-body contemplation for mapping the ascent from Māyā to Turīyā and recognizing Śiva as the ātma-tattva in sṛṣṭi-krama during meditation/nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Māyā-śakti-anta and Turīyā-aṃśa-vartula (Ātma-tattva-vidyā as Śiva)","lookup_keywords":["māyā-śakti","turīyā","aṃśa-vartula","ātma-tattva-vidyā","sṛṣṭi-krama"],"quick_summary":"At the limit of Māyā’s operative power is a subtle ‘circle’ identified with a fractional aspect of Turīyā; there Śiva is understood as the very knowledge of the Self-principle, to be contemplated in the emanational order."}
Concept: Śiva as ātma-tattva-vidyā beyond Māyā, approached through Turīyā-oriented subtle mapping in sṛṣṭi-krama.
Application: Use as a meditative ‘locus’ (ālambana) in internal worship: trace tattvas up to Māyā’s limit, then rest awareness in Turīyā-aspect as Śiva.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Tantra / Atma-tattva-vidya (Cosmology and subtle-body doctrine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An abstract cosmological diagram: a mandala-like circle at the boundary of Māyā, with a finer inner ring marked as the sixteenth part of Turīyā; within it a radiant Śiva-principle labeled ātma-tattva-vidyā, with emanational arrows indicating sṛṣṭi-krama.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, concentric mandala at Māyā’s boundary, inner turīyā ring, serene luminous Śiva-tattva at center, subtle inscriptions, sacred geometry emphasis","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlighting the central Śiva-tattva, embossed concentric circles for Māyā and Turīyā, rich reds and greens, ornamental border, iconographic abstraction with sacred symbols","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional cosmology chart with labeled rings (Māyā, Turīyā-aṃśa), emanation sequence arrows, central Śiva as ātma-vidyā","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with precise geometry and calligraphic labels, cosmological mandala diagram on a folio page, delicate pigments, central radiance for Śiva-principle, marginal notes indicating sṛṣṭi-krama"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मायापदेशशक्त्यन्तन्तुर्याशाष्टांशवर्तुलम् → माया + अपदेश + शक्ति + अन्त + तुर्या + अष्टांश + वर्तुलम्; तत्रात्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यम् → तत्र + आत्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (Śaiva-tantra: tattva/nyāsa/mantra sections)
FAQs
It conveys a Shaiva-tantric mapping of consciousness and cosmology: Śiva as ātma-tattva-vidyā is located beyond Māyā, described through the Turīyā-based ‘sixteenth-part circle’ (a technical marker for transcendence beyond ordinary states).
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana also preserves compact tantric-metaphysical schemata—linking Māyā, Śakti, states of consciousness (Turīyā), and emanational order—showing its wide coverage of philosophy and yogic cosmology.
By identifying Śiva beyond Māyā and relating creation to a graded inner principle (ātma-tattva), the verse points to liberation-through-knowledge: recognizing the Self/Śiva as prior to cosmic limitation is presented as the key spiritual insight.