Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
नैरृत्यां क्षेपयेन्मृत्स्नां खाते कुम्भजलं क्षिपेत् पुरस्य पूर्वसीमन्तं नयेद् यावदभीप्सितं
nairṛtyāṃ kṣepayenmṛtsnāṃ khāte kumbhajalaṃ kṣipet purasya pūrvasīmantaṃ nayed yāvadabhīpsitaṃ
Man soll die Erde (die für das Ritual entnommen wurde) nach Südwesten werfen; in die ausgehobene Grube gieße man Wasser aus dem Krug. Danach ziehe man die östliche Grenzlinie der Stadt so weit, wie es gewünscht ist.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Bhūmi-parīkṣā and sīmā-nirdhāraṇa for town-planning: directional casting of earth (toward Nairṛtya), water-pouring into the pit, then laying out the eastern boundary line to the intended extent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pura-sīmā-nirdhāraṇa: nairṛtya-mṛt-kṣepa, khāta-jala-kṣepa, pūrva-sīmanta-vistāra","lookup_keywords":["nairṛtya","mṛt-kṣepa","khāta","kumbha-jala","pūrva-sīmanta"],"quick_summary":"Perform a directional earth-casting and pit-water rite, then extend and mark the town’s eastern boundary line to the desired length—linking ritual testing with practical surveying."}
Concept: Ritualized measurement: spatial order (sīmā) is established through both symbolic directional rites and concrete boundary extension.
Application: Combine vāstu-directional observances with practical demarcation when laying out a settlement, ensuring both social legitimacy and functional planning.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Pura-nirmana, Sima-nirdharana, Bhumi-pariksha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Directional/Urban-planning boundary
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A survey-like ritual: earth is cast toward the south-west; water from a kumbha is poured into a freshly dug pit; then surveyors/priest extend a marked line defining the town’s eastern boundary to a chosen endpoint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, directional markers (SW and East) shown symbolically, priest casting earth to Nairṛtya, pouring kumbha-water into a pit, assistants stretching a cord/line to mark the eastern boundary, stylized landscape.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-accented kumbha and ritual implements, clear depiction of pit and water-pouring, boundary line drawn with ornate precision, auspicious border motifs framing a planned town edge.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical clarity: pit, earth-casting gesture toward SW, kumbha-water pouring, then cord/rod measurement laying the eastern boundary line; fine details of tools and markers.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, planners and priest in a landscape with measured line and stakes, one pouring water into pit, another casting earth to SW, delicate rendering of surveying instruments and boundary extension."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṣepayenmṛtsnāṃ = kṣepayet mṛtsnām; yāvadabhīpsitam = yāvat abhīpsitam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92 (bhūmi-parīkṣā, sīmā, pura-nirmāṇa context)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu procedure for laying out a town’s boundary: casting soil to the south‑west (nairṛta) and pouring pot-water into a prepared pit, then extending/marking the eastern boundary to the intended distance.
Beyond theology, it records practical civic and architectural know-how—directional rules, site-rites, and boundary demarcation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied Vāstu and town-planning alongside ritual practice.
The directional casting of earth and libation of water function as bhūmi-śuddhi (site purification) and ritually ‘settle’ the boundary, aiming to avert inauspicious influences (especially associated with the nairṛta quarter) and establish an auspicious, protected settlement space.