Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
नागः करग्रहश् चैशे अष्टौ दिशि दिशि स्मृताः आद्यन्तौ तु तयोर्देवौ प्रोक्तावत्र गृहेश्वरौ
nāgaḥ karagrahaś caiśe aṣṭau diśi diśi smṛtāḥ ādyantau tu tayordevau proktāvatra gṛheśvarau
En este ordenamiento vāstu, se recuerdan el Nāga y el Karagraha como ocho—uno en cada dirección. Y aquí, las dos deidades situadas al comienzo y al final de ellos son declaradas los dos señores presidentes de la casa (Gṛheśvaras).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Placement/recognition of directional Nāga and Karagraha entities in house-vāstu for protective boundary-setting and gṛha-śānti rites; identifying presiding gṛheśvaras.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-dik Nāga–Karagraha and the two Gṛheśvaras","lookup_keywords":["Nāga","Karagraha","aṣṭa-dik","Gṛheśvara","gṛha-vāstu"],"quick_summary":"States that eight Nāga/Karagraha presences are assigned one per direction, and identifies the ‘beginning and end’ deities as the two presiding lords of the house for ritual address."}
Concept: Gṛha as a microcosm requiring dik-bandhana and guardian assignment.
Application: Before occupancy/major rites, acknowledge directional guardians and gṛheśvaras to stabilize the dwelling’s ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Gṛha-vāstu, Dikpāla/Nāga-vinyāsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A house-plan mandala with eight directional markers, each showing a coiled Nāga emblem and a Karagraha symbol; two highlighted presiding deities at the ‘start’ and ‘end’ points of the sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diagrammatic house mandala, stylized serpents at eight directions, ritual priest performing dik-bandhana, subdued temple colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore protective mandala with gold border, eight nāgas as ornate serpent guardians around a central house icon, two gṛheśvaras emphasized with halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional illustration of a house grid, clear directional arrows, serpent icons at each direction, labels for gṛheśvara pair.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a vāstu consultation, architect showing a plan with serpent emblems at compass points, fine calligraphy annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: karagrahaś caiśe→karagrahaḥ + ca + īśe; tayordevau→tayoḥ + devau; proktāvatra→proktau + atra.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 246 (vāstu guardians and invocation lists)
FAQs
It outlines a vāstu (architectural-ritual) mapping: eight placements tied to the eight directions, identifying Nāga and Karagraha as directional factors, and indicating that the terminal points are governed by two Gṛheśvara (house-presiding) deities.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied vāstu-śāstra: directional taxonomy, protective entities, and household deity-prescriptions—showing the text’s practical guidance for domestic/ritual architecture alongside its broader religious content.
Correctly recognizing and honoring directional forces and the house-presiding deities is presented as a means of harmonizing the dwelling, averting obstructive influences, and supporting auspiciousness and ritual purity in household life.