Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
नागः करग्रहश् चैशे अष्टौ दिशि दिशि स्मृताः आद्यन्तौ तु तयोर्देवौ प्रोक्तावत्र गृहेश्वरौ
nāgaḥ karagrahaś caiśe aṣṭau diśi diśi smṛtāḥ ādyantau tu tayordevau proktāvatra gṛheśvarau
In dieser vāstu-Anordnung werden Nāga und Karagraha als acht erinnert—je einer in jeder Himmelsrichtung. Und hier werden die beiden Gottheiten an ihrem Anfang und an ihrem Ende als die zwei Haus-Herren (Gṛheśvaras) bezeichnet.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Placement/recognition of directional Nāga and Karagraha entities in house-vāstu for protective boundary-setting and gṛha-śānti rites; identifying presiding gṛheśvaras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-dik Nāga–Karagraha and the two Gṛheśvaras","lookup_keywords":["Nāga","Karagraha","aṣṭa-dik","Gṛheśvara","gṛha-vāstu"],"quick_summary":"States that eight Nāga/Karagraha presences are assigned one per direction, and identifies the ‘beginning and end’ deities as the two presiding lords of the house for ritual address."}
Concept: Gṛha as a microcosm requiring dik-bandhana and guardian assignment.
Application: Before occupancy/major rites, acknowledge directional guardians and gṛheśvaras to stabilize the dwelling’s ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Gṛha-vāstu, Dikpāla/Nāga-vinyāsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house-plan mandala with eight directional markers, each showing a coiled Nāga emblem and a Karagraha symbol; two highlighted presiding deities at the ‘start’ and ‘end’ points of the sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diagrammatic house mandala, stylized serpents at eight directions, ritual priest performing dik-bandhana, subdued temple colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore protective mandala with gold border, eight nāgas as ornate serpent guardians around a central house icon, two gṛheśvaras emphasized with halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional illustration of a house grid, clear directional arrows, serpent icons at each direction, labels for gṛheśvara pair.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a vāstu consultation, architect showing a plan with serpent emblems at compass points, fine calligraphy annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: karagrahaś caiśe→karagrahaḥ + ca + īśe; tayordevau→tayoḥ + devau; proktāvatra→proktau + atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 246 (vāstu guardians and invocation lists)
FAQs
It outlines a vāstu (architectural-ritual) mapping: eight placements tied to the eight directions, identifying Nāga and Karagraha as directional factors, and indicating that the terminal points are governed by two Gṛheśvara (house-presiding) deities.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied vāstu-śāstra: directional taxonomy, protective entities, and household deity-prescriptions—showing the text’s practical guidance for domestic/ritual architecture alongside its broader religious content.
Correctly recognizing and honoring directional forces and the house-presiding deities is presented as a means of harmonizing the dwelling, averting obstructive influences, and supporting auspiciousness and ritual purity in household life.