Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Yātrā-Maṇḍala-Cintā and Rājya-Rakṣaṇa: Auspicious Travel Rules and the Twelve-King Mandala
कृत्तिकाद्यानि पूर्वेण मघाद्यानि च याम्यतः मैत्राद्यान्यपरे चाथ वासवाद्यानि वाप्युदक्
kṛttikādyāni pūrveṇa maghādyāni ca yāmyataḥ maitrādyānyapare cātha vāsavādyāni vāpyudak
কৃত্তিকা-আদি নক্ষত্ৰসমূহ পূব দিশত, মঘা-আদি নক্ষত্ৰসমূহ দক্ষিণ দিশত, মৈত্ৰা (অনুৰাধা)-আদি নক্ষত্ৰসমূহ পশ্চিম দিশত, আৰু বাসবা (শ্ৰৱণা)-আদি নক্ষত্ৰসমূহ উত্তৰ দিশত স্থাপিত বুলি কোৱা হয়।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings to a sage such as Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Mapping nakshatra groups to directions for muhurta, dik-bala, travel orientation, and ritual placement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Directional Placement of Nakshatra Quarters (Krittika/Magha/Anuradha/Shravana Groups)","lookup_keywords":["Krittika east","Magha south","Maitra Anuradha west","Vasava Shravana north","nakshatra directions"],"quick_summary":"Nakshatras are grouped by directional quarters: Kṛttikā-group to the East, Maghā-group to the South, Maitrā/Anurādhā-group to the West, and Vāsavā/Śravaṇā-group to the North—used for directional strength and timing."}
Concept: Bandhu between sky (nakshatra-mandala) and space (dik) enables applied decision-making in rites and travel.
Application: When choosing direction for departure or placing ritual items, consider the current nakshatra’s quarter to judge directional suitability/strength.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Nakshatra-Mandala (Directions and Lunar Mansions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circular nakshatra-mandala divided into four quarters with labels: Kṛttikā-series in the East, Maghā-series in the South, Anurādhā (Maitrā)-series in the West, and Śravaṇā (Vāsavā)-series in the North; an astrologer indicates each quadrant.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large celestial wheel with four colored quadrants, nakshatra names in Devanagari, astrologer pointing with stylus, decorative lotus border, deep blues and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gilded nakshatra wheel with gold quadrant dividers, richly adorned jyotiṣi, luminous compass directions, temple lamp motifs, jewel-toned background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise instructional chart: compass + nakshatra lists per direction, clean calligraphy, subtle shading, scholar seated with palm-leaf manuscript and pointer.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, astronomer in a pavilion presenting a painted star-wheel to patrons, fine detailing of quadrant labels and constellations, night-sky gradient, floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कृत्तिकाद्यानि = कृत्तिका + आद्यानि; मैत्राद्यान्यपरे = मैत्राद्यानि + अपरे; वाप्युदक् = वा + अपि + उदक्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 232 (nakshatra and direction rules for yatra/muhurta)
FAQs
It gives a Jyotiṣa-based directional schema for groups of nakṣatras—useful for ritual orientation, calendrical/astrological layouts, and placing lunar mansions into the four quarters.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical astronomical-astrological classification (nakṣatra mapping by direction), showing its compendium style across sciences like Jyotiṣa.
Correctly aligning rites with cosmic directions and nakṣatra order is treated as harmonizing action with ṛta (cosmic order), supporting ritual correctness and the intended religious merit (puṇya) of observances.