Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 25
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
अष्टहस्तं पुरा क्षेत्रं रसपक्षैर् विवर्तयेत् पञ्चभागमितेति ख , छ च द्विपदं कमलं मध्ये वीथिका पदिका ततः
aṣṭahastaṃ purā kṣetraṃ rasapakṣair vivartayet pañcabhāgamiteti kha , cha ca dvipadaṃ kamalaṃ madhye vīthikā padikā tataḥ
D’abord, qu’on délimite un terrain de huit hastas, en disposant ses côtés selon les divisions « rasa » ; les portions marquées comme secteurs kha et cha doivent être mesurées en cinq parts. Au milieu, on place un lotus à deux padas (dvipada) ; puis l’on aménage la vīthikā (allée/passage) et la padikā (chemin secondaire).
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana’s encyclopedic Vastu material)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Sacred site planning: measuring an 8-hasta plot, dividing sides by specified proportional scheme (rasa divisions), fixing sector measures (kha/cha), placing a central two-pada lotus, then laying out vīthikā and padikā circulation paths.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣetra-nirmāṇa: 8-hasta plot, rasa-divisions, central dvipada-kamala, vīthikā–padikā layout","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭa-hasta-kṣetra","rasa-pakṣa-vibhāga","kha-cha-bhāga","dvipada-kamala","vīthikā-padikā"],"quick_summary":"Measure the plot to eight hastas, apply proportional side-divisions, set specified sector measures, install a central two-pada lotus, and then arrange the aisle/street (vīthikā) and footpath (padikā) for orderly sacred circulation."}
Concept: Proportion (māna) and centered mandala-order (madhya-padma) create auspicious, functional sacred space.
Application: Use standardized measures (hasta, bhāga, pada) to draft reliable plans for shrines/ritual grounds and to guide movement via vīthikā/padikā.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Kshetra-nirmana / Mandala-vinyasa for sacred layouts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sthapati draws an 8-hasta square plot, marks proportional divisions and named sectors (kha/cha), places a central two-pada lotus, then sketches surrounding vīthikā and padikā paths.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, architect-sage with palm-leaf and stylus, floor-plan shown as bold geometric diagram with central lotus, vīthikā/padikā rings, earthy tones and ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-accented sacred plan with central lotus medallion, sthapati presenting the layout to patrons, rich decorative frame, emphasis on auspicious center","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean technical plan view with measurements (hasta, bhāga, pada) subtly indicated, central dvipada lotus, vīthikā and padikā clearly separated, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patronage scene: architect unrolls a site plan with central lotus and pathways, assistants with measuring rods, detailed textiles and architectural backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रसपक्षैर् → रसपक्षैः (रेफ्-सन्धि); पञ्चभागमितेति → पञ्चभागमित + इति
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu chapters on kṣetra-parīkṣā, pada-vinyāsa, prāsāda-maṇḍala, vīthī-lakṣaṇa
FAQs
It teaches Vastu-style site planning: fixing an eight-hasta plot, dividing it by technical segments (rasa-based partitioning), placing a central two-pada lotus diagram, and arranging lanes (vīthikā) and footpaths (padikā) as part of a sacred layout.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical canons of architecture and spatial design—measurement systems (hasta, bhāga), grid-units (pada), and mandala motifs—showing its breadth as a manual of applied sciences like Vastu.
Correctly measured and mandala-aligned space is treated as ritually efficacious: the ordered central lotus and properly arranged pathways are understood to support purity, auspiciousness, and the intended merit of worship performed in that constructed area.