Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
पितृब्रह्मान्तरे विष्णुमिन्दुमिन्द्रं त्वधो जयं वरुणब्रह्मणोर्मध्ये मित्राख्यं षट्पदे यजेत्
pitṛbrahmāntare viṣṇumindumindraṃ tvadho jayaṃ varuṇabrahmaṇormadhye mitrākhyaṃ ṣaṭpade yajet
Dans l’intervalle entre la divinité des Pitṛ et Brahmā, on doit vénérer Viṣṇu; en une autre position, la Lune et Indra; et au-dessous, Jaya. Entre Varuṇa et Brahmā, on doit vénérer la divinité nommée Mitra — ainsi s’accomplit le culte dans le diagramme à six pétales (ṣaṭpada).
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Designing a ṣaṭpada (six-petalled) worship-maṇḍala and placing specific devatās in precise interspaces for padma-pūjā/nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣaṭpada-maṇḍala Devatā-sthāpana (Pitṛ–Brahmā interspace etc.)","lookup_keywords":["ṣaṭpada","maṇḍala","devatā-sthāpana","padma-pūjā","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Gives exact interspace placements: Viṣṇu between Pitṛ and Brahmā; Mitra between Varuṇa and Brahmā; plus placements of Indu, Indra, and Jaya within the six-petalled diagram."}
Concept: Devata-nyāsa as microcosmic ordering of cosmic powers within a worship-diagram.
Application: Use correct spatial correspondences to stabilize mantra-japa, homa, and pūjā results (siddhi through niyama).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala/Padma-puja; Nyasa and Devata-placement in worship diagrams)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A six-petalled lotus maṇḍala with labeled interspaces: Pitṛ and Brahmā with Viṣṇu between; Varuṇa and Brahmā with Mitra between; other petals holding Candra, Indra, and Jaya, shown as small seated devatās around a central bindu.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of a ṣaṭpada lotus maṇḍala on a red-ochre ground, flat iconic devatās (Viṣṇu, Indra, Candra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Brahmā, Pitṛ), bold outlines, minimal shading, ritual diagram clarity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting emphasizing the lotus maṇḍala with gold-leaf highlights on the petals and halos; Viṣṇu and Brahmā richly ornamented; labels in stylized script around interspaces.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting with fine linework showing a clean instructional maṇḍala layout, pastel petals, neatly placed devatās with attributes (śaṅkha-cakra for Viṣṇu, vajra for Indra, pāśa for Varuṇa, lotus for Brahmā).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a ritualist drawing a six-petalled lotus diagram on a low platform, with tiny devatā figures occupying interspaces; delicate borders, calligraphic labels, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृब्रह्मान्तरे = पितृ-ब्रह्म-अन्तरे; विष्णुमिन्दुमिन्द्रं = विष्णुम् इन्दुम् इन्द्रम्; त्वधो = तु अधः; वरुणब्रह्मणोर्मध्ये = वरुण-ब्रह्मणोः मध्ये; मित्राख्यं = मित्र-आख्यम्; षट्पदे = षट्-पदे
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (Padma/maṇḍala-pūjā sequence; earlier 'pūrvavat' placements)
FAQs
It gives precise devatā-sthāpana (deity-placement) rules for worship in a ṣaṭpada (six-petalled) mandala/lotus—specifying which deities are to be installed and worshipped in the interspaces and lower position.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical ritual-technology: spatial liturgy (mandala geometry + deity mapping). Such procedural details exemplify the Agni Purana’s compendium style, covering hands-on temple/household worship methods alongside theology.
Correct placement and worship of deities in the prescribed mandala is held to align the rite with cosmic order (ṛta), making the offering efficacious—supporting purification, protection, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the pūjā.