Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 42 — प्रासादलक्षणकथनं
Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa-kathana: Characteristics of the Temple/Prāsāda
पूर्वे वराहं दक्षे च नृसिंहं श्रीधरं जले उत्तरे तु हयग्रीवनाग्नेय्यां जामदग्न्यकं
pūrve varāhaṃ dakṣe ca nṛsiṃhaṃ śrīdharaṃ jale uttare tu hayagrīvanāgneyyāṃ jāmadagnyakaṃ
পূব দিশত বৰাহ, দক্ষিণত নৃসিংহ, জল-দিশ (পশ্চিম) ত শ্ৰীধৰ, উত্তৰত হয়গ্ৰীৱ আৰু আগ্নেয় (দক্ষিণ-পূব) দিশত জামদগ্ন্য (পৰশুৰাম) স্থাপন/ধ্যান কৰিব লাগে।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Mandala-nyāsa in pūjā: assigning Viṣṇu’s avatāra-forms to directions for visualization, protection, and ritual completeness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-nyāsa of Viṣṇu Avatāras (Varāha–Narasiṃha–Śrīdhara–Hayagrīva–Jāmadagnya)","lookup_keywords":["dik-nyasa","avatara placement","Varaha Narasimha","Hayagriva","Parashurama"],"quick_summary":"Place/meditate on specific avatāras in fixed directions of the mandala. This stabilizes the ritual space and aligns worship with directional energies (dik)."}
Weapon Type: Axe (paraśu) (via Jāmadagnya/Paraśurāma)
Concept: Dik-sambandha: deities as spatial principles; sanctification of space through ordered placement.
Application: During pūjā, mentally/physically assign forms to quarters before main worship to create a protected, coherent ritual field.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mandala-nyasa (Directional placement of Vishnu’s avatar-forms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with the five avatāras positioned in their quarters: Varāha east, Narasiṃha south, Śrīdhara west, Hayagrīva north, Paraśurāma southeast; a sādhaka performing nyāsa with flowers and water-pot.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, sacred mandala diagram on floor, five Viṣṇu avatāras in directional panels (east Varāha, south Narasiṃha, west Śrīdhara, north Hayagrīva, southeast Paraśurāma), priest in white dhoti doing nyāsa, lamps and lotus motifs, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halos, central mandala grid, avatāras in directional compartments, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry, Paraśurāma with golden axe in southeast, ornate borders and temple lamp details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional mandala layout with labeled directions, avatāras rendered with soft shading, priest demonstrating placement with flowers, calm temple interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down mandala courtyard, five avatāras in corners/quarters, fine architectural framing, detailed textiles, a ritualist placing offerings, subdued palette with precise detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Directional locatives used adverbially: pūrve/dakṣe/uttare/āgneyyām. ‘hayagrīvanāgneyyām’ resolved as hayagrīvān + āgneyyām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 42 (Pūjā-vidhi / mandala-nyāsa context); Agni Purana 43.2 (parallel avatāra directional placements)
FAQs
It teaches dik-nyāsa/devatā-sthāpana: assigning specific Viṣṇu forms (Varāha, Narasiṃha, Śrīdhara, Hayagrīva, Jāmadagnya) to specific directions in a ritual mandala or worship layout.
By codifying practical temple-and-ritual procedure—directional theology, iconographic placement, and mandala logic—alongside narrative material, the Agni Purana functions as a ritual manual as well as a Purāṇic compendium.
Correct directional installation is held to harmonize the worship space, align the sādhaka with cosmic order (dik), and stabilize the intended spiritual result (siddhi/phala) of the rite by honoring each form in its prescribed quarter.