Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 24
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
एकं याम्ये च सौमास्यं द्वे चेत् पश्चात् पुरोमुखम् चतुःशालन्तु साम्मुख्यात्तयोरिन्द्रेन्द्रमुक्तयोः
ekaṃ yāmye ca saumāsyaṃ dve cet paścāt puromukham catuḥśālantu sāmmukhyāttayorindrendramuktayoḥ
Im südlichen Viertel (yāmya) soll es eine einzige Öffnung/„Gesicht“ geben, und im nördlichen Viertel (saumya) soll sie nach Norden ausgerichtet sein. Gibt es zwei, so richte man eine nach Westen und eine nach Osten. In der vierseitigen Halle (catuḥśālā) jedoch sollen sie einander gegenüberliegen; dann sind die glückverheißenden Wirkungen mit Indra und mit der Loslösung von Indra verbunden (weltliche Herrschaft und Befreiung).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Door/opening orientation rules by cardinal direction and plan-type, used to optimize auspiciousness and functional circulation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional orientation of openings in 1-, 2-, and 4-śālā plans","lookup_keywords":["yāmya","saumya","purōmukha","catuḥśālā","Indra-mukti"],"quick_summary":"Gives direction-based prescriptions for one or two openings and for the four-sided hall, linking facing arrangements with outcomes such as sovereignty (Indra) and liberation (mukti)."}
Concept: Dik-niyama: alignment with cosmic guardians (dikpālas) conditions worldly success and spiritual release.
Application: Place doors/openings according to plan-type and intended outcomes (artha/aiśvarya vs mokṣa), while maintaining symmetry in catuḥśālā.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (House-planning, directions, and architectural canons)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A four-direction compass around a house-plan showing one opening in the south/north cases, two openings east-west, and a catuḥśālā with opposing faces; Indra indicated on the east.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, compass mandala with dikpālas faintly suggested, house-plan at center with highlighted doorways, labels yāmya/saumya, restrained palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central catuḥśālā diagram with gold halo-like compass ring, small Indra emblem on the east, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic sheet with three subfigures (one-opening, two-opening, catuḥśālā), arrows showing facing directions, neat Sanskrit annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect presenting a compass-and-plan to a noble patron, with inset diagrams showing door orientations and a small Indra iconography on the margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saumāsyaṃ → saumya-āsyam; catuḥśālantu → catuḥ-śālam + tu; sāmmukhyāt (as transmitted) taken as sām-mukhyāt; tayorindrendramuktayoḥ → tayor + indra-indra-muktayoḥ (text uncertain).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (directional rules for gṛha and śālā arrangements)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-śāstra rules for placing and orienting entrances/openings by cardinal direction, including special guidance for a four-sided hall (catuḥśālā) with face-to-face alignment.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical technical canons—here, architectural/directional planning—showing how the text functions as a compendium of applied knowledge (Vāstu) alongside ritual and theology.
The verse links correct spatial orientation with auspicious outcomes—symbolically framed as Indra-related prosperity/sovereignty and, in a higher register, ‘freedom from Indra,’ pointing to merit that supports both worldly success and eventual liberation.
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