Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्
The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones
सुभद्रादिषु नन्दाद्याश् चतस्रो ऽग्न्यादिकोणगाः अजिताद्याश् च पूर्वादिजयादिष्वथ विन्यसेत्
subhadrādiṣu nandādyāś catasro 'gnyādikoṇagāḥ ajitādyāś ca pūrvādijayādiṣvatha vinyaset
Unter den Gottheiten, die mit Subhadrā beginnen, setze man die vier (Göttinnen), beginnend mit Nandā, in die Eckrichtungen, ausgehend von der Agni-Ecke (Südosten). Ebenso sind die Gottheiten, beginnend mit Ajitā, im Osten und in den übrigen Richtungen zu installieren, an den Plätzen, die mit Jayā beginnen, der Reihe nach.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Mandala/nyāsa mapping: place Nandā-series goddesses in corner directions starting SE; place Ajitā-series in cardinal directions starting East in positions beginning with Jayā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mandala Placement: Nandā in Corners, Ajitā in Directions (Jayā Positions)","lookup_keywords":["Subhadrā","Nandā","Ajitā","Agni-koṇa","Jayā"],"quick_summary":"In the mandala, install four Nandā-type goddesses in the intercardinal corners beginning with the south-east; then install Ajitā and related deities in the cardinal directions beginning with the east, aligned to the Jayā-series positions."}
Concept: Orderly spatial invocation: deities are ‘made present’ by correct locus and sequence, producing protection and auspicious flow.
Application: When drawing/using a mandala, keep corner-deities distinct from directional deities; begin placements from prescribed starting corners/directions to maintain ritual coherence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala/Nyasa of Deities in Ritual Diagrams)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala on the ground with clearly marked eight directions and four corners; the four Nandā-type goddesses placed in the corners starting at the south-east; Ajitā-type deities placed on the east and other directions aligned with Jayā positions; priests placing flowers or yantra-tokens on each locus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, floor mandala with bold directional markers, corner goddesses as stylized feminine forms at SE/SW/NW/NE, Ajitā-series at E/S/W/N, priests placing flowers and lamps, warm temple interior palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, mandala rendered as ornate lotus diagram with gold, corner goddesses with gold halos starting at Agni corner, directional deities in cardinal petals, rich jewelry and embossed highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, crisp instructional mandala diagram with labels for Agni-koṇa and East, small deity icons placed at corners and directions, priest demonstrating placement sequence with hand gesture, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a courtyard mandala, attendants placing tokens at corners and directions, fine calligraphy naming Nandā/Ajitā/Jayā positions, delicate color washes and precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतस्रो ऽग्न्यादिकोणगाः = चतस्रः अग्नि-आदि-कोण-गाः; पूर्वादिजयादिष्वथ = पूर्व-आदि-जय-आदिषु अथ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 94 (mandala/nyāsa deity lists; dik/koṇa assignments; kumbha and śakti placements)
FAQs
It teaches mandala/nyāsa protocol: assigning specific deity-groups to specific spatial loci—Nandā-group to the corner-directions starting from the Agni (south-east) corner, and Ajitā-group to the cardinal directions starting from the east in Jayā-designated slots.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual-technology: not only theology, but precise procedural mapping of deities onto directional geometry used in temple worship, yantra/mandala layouts, and consecration rites.
Correct directional installation is treated as essential for ritual efficacy—aligning worship with cosmic order (dik/koṇa structure), which is understood to remove obstacles, stabilize the rite, and yield auspicious results.