Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
चतुःषष्टिपदं कृत्वा मध्ये ब्रह्मा चतुष्पदः प्राक् तेषां वै गृहस्वामी कथितस्तु तथार्यमा
catuḥṣaṣṭipadaṃ kṛtvā madhye brahmā catuṣpadaḥ prāk teṣāṃ vai gṛhasvāmī kathitastu tathāryamā
Tras trazar la cuadrícula vāstu de sesenta y cuatro casillas, se coloca a Brahmā en el centro ocupando cuatro casillas; y al oriente de ellas se enseña que el Señor de la casa (Gṛhasvāmin) es Aryaman.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Designing the vāstu-maṇḍala (64-pada grid) and placing deities correctly—central Brahmā zone and eastern placement of Gṛhasvāmin (Aryaman)—for house/temple planning and ritual nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-maṇḍala (64-pada): Brahmā in the center; Aryaman as Gṛhasvāmin in the east","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-maṇḍala","catuḥṣaṣṭi-pada","Brahmā-sthāna","Gṛhasvāmin","Aryaman"],"quick_summary":"In a 64-square vāstu grid, Brahmā occupies the central four squares (Brahmasthāna). Immediately to the east, the house-lord deity is identified as Aryaman, guiding orientation and room placement."}
Concept: Spatial order mirrors cosmic order: deities are mapped onto space to harmonize human dwelling with ṛta/dharma.
Application: While planning, reserve the central Brahmasthāna appropriately and align key functions/entrances with the prescribed eastern deity-pada (Aryaman as Gṛhasvāmin).
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Maṇḍala-vinyāsa and Devatā-pada placements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A drawn 8x8 vāstu grid on the ground; the central 2x2 marked as Brahmā; the eastern adjacent squares labeled Aryaman/Gṛhasvāmin; architects and priests indicating placements with measuring cords.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priests/architects around a large 64-pada grid drawn with white lines; central Brahmā area highlighted; east side marked Aryaman; traditional pigments, strong outlines, ritual-meets-architecture mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: symmetrical 8x8 grid rendered like a sacred diagram with gold accents on Brahmasthāna; Agni or a sthapati instructing; ornate border, jewel tones, embossed gold for the central zone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical clarity—clean 8x8 plan with central 2x2 emphasized; east labeled Aryaman; figures with measuring rope and stylus; fine linework and subdued palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed planning scene with draughtsmanship; grid on parchment and on ground; central squares tinted; east side annotated; refined architectural instruments and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catuḥṣaṣṭipadaṃ → catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi-padam; catuṣpadaḥ → catuṣ-padaḥ; kathitastu → kathitaḥ tu; tathāryamā → tathā aryamā.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: subsequent vāstu verses listing other pada-devatās and directional allocations (same chapter continuation); Agni Purāṇa: prāsāda/śilpa sections where maṇḍala underlies temple layout
FAQs
It gives a vāstu-śāstra rule for laying out the 64-pada vāstu-maṇḍala: Brahmā occupies the central 2×2 padas, and Aryaman is identified as the Gṛhasvāmin on the eastern side—guiding correct deity-placement for construction and consecration.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural science: the measurable grid (pada-maṇḍala) and its devatā assignments used in house/temple planning—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied disciplines like vāstu, ritual procedure, and sacred geometry.
Correct placement of deities on the vāstu-maṇḍala is treated as harmonizing the dwelling with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting auspiciousness, stability, and ritual purity for the occupants and the consecrated space.