Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Vṛkṣāyurveda (The Science of Plant-Life) — Tree Placement, Muhūrta, Irrigation, Spacing, and Plant Remedies
गृहवामे इति ञ पुष्करिण्यान्त्विति पाठो न सम्यक् प्रतिभाति हस्ता मघा तथा मैत्रमाद्यं पुष्यं सवासवं जलाशयसमारम्भे वारुणञ्चोत्तरात्रयम्
gṛhavāme iti ña puṣkariṇyāntviti pāṭho na samyak pratibhāti hastā maghā tathā maitramādyaṃ puṣyaṃ savāsavaṃ jalāśayasamārambhe vāruṇañcottarātrayam
La leçon «gṛhavāme …» est obscure ; et la variante «puṣkariṇyāntv …» ne paraît pas davantage correcte. Pour commencer la construction d’un réservoir d’eau, les demeures lunaires de bon augure sont Hastā, Maghā, Maitra (c’est‑à‑dire Anurādhā), la première des Uttaras, Puṣya et celle de Vāsava (c’est‑à‑dire Śravaṇa) ; sont aussi recevables Vāruṇa (c’est‑à‑dire Śatabhiṣaj) et les trois autres astérismes «Uttara» restants.
Lord Agni (in the standard Agni Purana dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Muhūrta selection for initiating water-reservoir construction (tanks/ponds): choose specified nakṣatras to maximize auspicious outcomes and avoid defects; also reflects textual criticism awareness via variant readings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Auspicious nakṣatras for commencing jalāśaya (water-reservoir) works","lookup_keywords":["jalāśaya","muhūrta","Hastā","Maghā","Puṣya","Śravaṇa","Śatabhiṣaj"],"quick_summary":"For starting a tank/pond/reservoir, prefer Hastā, Maghā, Anurādhā (Maitra), the first Uttara (Uttaraphalgunī), Puṣya, Śravaṇa (Vāsava), and also Śatabhiṣaj (Vāruṇa) plus the remaining Uttara trio—ensuring auspicious timing for water-works."}
Concept: Kāla-śuddhi (purity of timing) is a practical technology for reducing risk and ensuring social confidence in major works like water infrastructure.
Application: Use nakṣatra-based scheduling as a traditional project-start protocol for wells/tanks, aligning community ritual calendars with construction milestones.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa / Muhūrta (Auspicious Nakṣatras for works like wells and tanks)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An astrologer indicates a nakṣatra chart while builders prepare to begin a reservoir; the listed lunar mansions are symbolized above as star emblems, marking an auspicious commencement moment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest-astrologer with palm-leaf chart showing nakṣatras, workers at the edge of a tank excavation, star symbols labeled Hastā/Maghā/Puṣya/Śravaṇa/Śatabhiṣaj/Uttarā trio, earthy tones and sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embellished nakṣatra wheel above, ceremonial groundbreaking at a pond with lamps and kalasha, ornate borders, rich gold detailing on star motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clear instructional panel: nakṣatra list written on a board, astrologer pointing, builders with tools at a marked tank outline, neat composition for didactic use.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant construction start scene with survey ropes, astrologer consulting a star chart, delicate sky with constellations, refined architectural and costume detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puṣkariṇyāntviti → puṣkariṇyām tu iti; maitramādyaṃ → maitram ādyam; vāruṇañcottarātrayam → vāruṇam ca uttarā-trayam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 281 (water-works and plantation timing); Agni Purana Jyotiṣa/muhūrta-related passages elsewhere in the Purāṇa (nakṣatra-karman lists)
FAQs
It gives a muhūrta rule: which nakṣatras are considered auspicious for beginning jalāśaya works (tanks/ponds), listing specific asterisms such as Hastā, Maghā, Anurādhā (Maitra), Puṣya, Śravaṇa (Vāsava), Śatabhiṣaj (Vāruṇa), and the Uttara group.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied Jyotiṣa used for public works and sacred infrastructure—timing guidelines for building reservoirs (puṣkariṇī/jalāśaya), a practical intersection of astrology, ritual propriety, and civil planning.
Choosing an auspicious nakṣatra for initiating water-reservoir construction is framed as aligning human action with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting purity, successful completion, and the merit associated with creating life-sustaining water resources.