Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
कोणेषु विन्यसेद् वंशौ रज्जवो ऽष्टौ विकोणगाः ॐ इं उं इति घ , ङ् च पञ्चगव्येन संसिक्तान् इति ग न्यूनादिदोषनाशार्थमिति घ यजेदस्रेण शुद्ध्यर्थमाहुतीनामिति घ वास्तुमण्डलमिति ग ङ तत इति श्लोकार्धं घ पुस्तके नास्ति विन्यसेद्वंशमिति ख द्विपदाः षट्पदास्तास्तु वास्तुन्तत्रार्चयेद् यथा
koṇeṣu vinyased vaṃśau rajjavo 'ṣṭau vikoṇagāḥ oṃ iṃ uṃ iti gha , ṅ ca pañcagavyena saṃsiktān iti ga nyūnādidoṣanāśārthamiti gha yajedasreṇa śuddhyarthamāhutīnāmiti gha vāstumaṇḍalamiti ga ṅa tata iti ślokārdhaṃ gha pustake nāsti vinyasedvaṃśamiti kha dvipadāḥ ṣaṭpadāstāstu vāstuntatrārcayed yathā
Man soll Bambusstäbe in den Ecken anbringen und acht Schnüre entlang der dazwischenliegenden Diagonalrichtungen spannen. Diese Schnurmaße sollen zwei und sechs Padas betragen; und dort, auf diesem Maṇḍala, soll man Vāstu (den Schutzgeist des Ortes) in rechter Weise verehren.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Practical method for setting out the mandala: fix corner stakes/bamboo rods and stretch eight cords along intermediate diagonal directions with specified pada-measures, then perform Vāstu worship on the established grid.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Corner Bamboo Stakes and Eight Cords for Vāstu-maṇḍala Setting-out","lookup_keywords":["vaṃśa","rajju","diagonal-cords","pada-measure","vāstu-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Establish the Vāstu grid by placing bamboo rods at corners and stretching eight cords through intermediate diagonal directions using prescribed pada lengths; then worship Vāstu on that mandala."}
Concept: Right measure (māna) and right orientation (dik) are prerequisites for inviting Vāstu-devatā; geometry becomes a ritual act.
Application: Use stakes and cords to ensure squareness/diagonals before beginning wall lines; treat the completed grid as the altar for Vāstu-arcana.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Vāstumaṇḍala-vidhi / Temple & site-planning ritual)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers place bamboo stakes at the four corners; eight cords are stretched diagonally and through intermediate directions, marking the grid; a priest prepares to worship Vāstu on the completed mandala.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: corner bamboo stakes and taut cords forming diagonals, white grid lines on earth, priest with offering tray near the center, stylized directional markers.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gleaming gold-highlighted cords over a mandala grid, corner stakes ornate, priest beginning Vāstu-arcana, temple tools arranged symmetrically.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear technical depiction of stakes and eight cords, labels for directions and pada lengths, subdued palette, emphasis on instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: artisans stretching cords with pegs, overseer holding plan, fine detail of knots and tools, background showing the site boundary and pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rajjavo 'ṣṭau: visarga + vowel → ' (avagraha); saṃsmared etc not here; nyūnādidoṣanāśārtham = nyūna-ādi-doṣa-nāśa-artham; śuddhyartham = śuddhi + artham; vāstuntatrārcayed = vāstum + tatra + arcayet (m+t→nt; a+a→ā). Non-verse editorial markers (gha/ga/ṅa/kha) treated as apparatus, not padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93.1 (64-square grid instruction); Agni Purana 93.3 (Vāstu-Puruṣa visualization and orientation)
FAQs
It teaches the vāstumaṇḍala layout method: fixing corner markers (bamboo rods) and stretching eight diagonal-direction cords with specified measures (two- and six-pada lengths), followed by worship of Vāstu on the prepared grid.
It exemplifies the text’s practical manuals: beyond mythology, it preserves technical Vāstu-śāstra—measurement, geometric layout, and consecratory worship—integrating architecture with ritual procedure.
Correctly establishing the site-grid and worshipping Vāstu is treated as a sanctifying act that harmonizes the building-space with its presiding power, helping avert doṣas (faults) and ensuring auspicious construction outcomes.