Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
आप्ये दौवारिकसुग्रीवौ पुष्पदन्तो ऽसुरो जलं यक्ष्मा रोगश् च शोषश् च उत्तरे नागराजकः
āpye dauvārikasugrīvau puṣpadanto 'suro jalaṃ yakṣmā rogaś ca śoṣaś ca uttare nāgarājakaḥ
Dans le quartier aqueux (āpyā, lié à Varuṇa) se tiennent les gardiens de la porte, Dauvārika et Sugrīva. S’y trouvent aussi Puṣpadanta, l’Asura, et Jala (l’élément eau). Là encore résident Yakṣmā (consomption), Roga (maladie) et Śoṣa (dépérissement). Au nord se tient Nāgarājaka, le roi des serpents.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Dvāra-devatā and quarter-nyāsa for water-related quarter: installing/remembering guardians at thresholds and recognizing disease-forces (yakṣmā, roga, śoṣa) to guide śānti and spatial allocation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āpya quarter and northern assignment: Dauvārika–Sugrīva, Puṣpadanta, Jala; Yakṣmā–Roga–Śoṣa; Nāgarājaka in North","lookup_keywords":["apya-quarter","dvara-devata","yakshma","shosha","nagarajaka"],"quick_summary":"Maps door-guardians and subtle forces to the water-associated quarter and assigns Nāgarājaka to the North. Practically used for threshold worship and for diagnosing/appeasing illness-linked vāstu influences."}
Concept: Thresholds and quarters are liminal power-points; naming and honoring their guardians is a technology of protection and order.
Application: Perform dvāra-pūjā with guardians’ remembrance; keep water zones pure and functional; undertake nāga/pitṛ śānti when recurring ailments or disturbances are observed.
Khanda Section: Vastu-Shastra / Dvāra-Devata & Dikpāla-Nyāsa (Guardians of directions and thresholds)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A doorway with two guardians labeled Dauvārika and Sugrīva; nearby a water-pot and flowing water symbol ‘Jala’; shadowy disease-figures labeled Yakṣmā, Roga, Śoṣa; to the north a regal Nāgarājaka serpent-king icon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple doorway with twin dvārapālas (Dauvārika, Sugrīva) in traditional attire, blue-green water motif for Āpya quarter, subtle dark silhouettes for Yakṣmā/Roga/Śoṣa being dispelled by priest with lamp and holy water, Nāgarājaka as hooded serpent to the north","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate doorway with gold-leaf pillars, jeweled guardians, prominent kalasha and water waves, Nāgarājaka rendered as gilded serpent-king, disease-forces shown as subdued dark forms at the margins","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic layout: doorway diagram with labels, water-quarter marked, small icons for Yakṣmā/Roga/Śoṣa, north marked with Nāgarājaka emblem, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-gate scene with two guards, a water channel indicating the water quarter, physician-priest sprinkling water, small serpent-king motif at top (north), delicate inscriptions for Yakṣmā/Roga/Śoṣa"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुष्पदन्तो ऽसुरो = पुष्पदन्तः + असुरः; रोगश् = रोगः (visarga before च); शोषश् = शोषः (visarga before च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 246 (dvāra-devatā lists; dik-nyāsa variants)
FAQs
It assigns specific door-guardians and associated beings/diseases to particular directions/quarters for Vāstu and temple/household protective placement (dvára-devatā and dik-nyāsa mapping).
It preserves a technical catalog used in applied ritual architecture (Vāstu/temple practice), combining cosmology (directions and elements), protective theology (guardians), and ritual pragmatics (where to place/visualize them).
Correct directional assignment is treated as a means of warding off inauspicious influences (including illness-forms like yakṣmā/śoṣa), supporting purity, protection, and the efficacy of worship performed in the dwelling or temple.