Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
त्रिकुटुं मणिबन्धं च सुविशुद्धं पदं तथा इति द्वादश मर्माणि वास्तोर्भित्त्यादिषु त्यजेत्
trikuṭuṃ maṇibandhaṃ ca suviśuddhaṃ padaṃ tathā iti dvādaśa marmāṇi vāstorbhittyādiṣu tyajet
„Trikuṭa“, „Maṇibandha“ sowie „Suviśuddha“ und „Pada“ — diese (und die übrigen), insgesamt zwölf Marmas (Vitalpunkte), sind beim Anlegen von Wänden und anderen Bauteilen eines Vāstu-Bauplatzes zu meiden.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Avoiding structurally/ritually inauspicious ‘marma’ points while placing walls and building elements to prevent defects, instability, and vāstu-doṣa in construction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-marma avoidance: twelve vital points (Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["vastu-marma","bhitti-nyasa","trikuta","manibandha","vastu-dosha"],"quick_summary":"In site-planning and wall-laying, identify the twelve vāstu-marmas (including Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada) and avoid cutting/placing major structural members on them to preserve auspiciousness and integrity."}
Concept: Non-injury (ahiṃsā) extended to space: just as marmas are vital in the body, certain loci are vital in the built environment and should not be ‘wounded’.
Application: Before laying walls, mark the vāstu grid, locate marmas, and adjust wall lines/door posts to avoid those points.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Architecture, Site-planning, and Building Auspiciousness)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Architect-priest marking a vāstu grid on the ground, indicating twelve marma points; masons laying out walls while deliberately avoiding those marked loci (Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, construction scene with priest drawing a grid using chalk, marma points shown as red nodes, workers holding measuring cords, temple-site ambiance, stylized figures and borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, vāstu grid rendered with gold lines, architect holding palm-leaf manual, marma nodes highlighted with embossed gold dots, rich architectural backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional diagram of a ground-plan with twelve marked marmas and wall-lines diverted around them, soft colors, precise geometry","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed building-site with surveyors and masons, ground-plan grid visible, marma points annotated in fine script, architectural elements in perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वास्तोर्भित्त्यादिषु = वास्तोः + भित्त्यादिषु (visarga → r before voiced consonant); भित्त्यादिषु = भित्ति + आदिषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (vāstu instructions connected to mandala and marma concepts)
FAQs
Vāstu-vidyā guidance: it instructs builders to avoid specific named “marma” (sensitive/vital) points when placing walls or related structural elements, to prevent vāstu-doṣa and harm.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual, extending beyond mythology into applied sciences like architecture (vāstu)—including technical lists and rules used in real construction.
Avoiding vāstu-marmas is treated as maintaining auspiciousness and purity of the dwelling/temple space, reducing inauspicious outcomes (doṣa) and supporting harmony for the occupants and rituals performed there.