Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 14
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
एकाशीपदं वेश्म मण्डपश् च शताङ्घ्रिकः पूर्ववद्देवताः पूज्या ब्रह्मा तु षोडशांशके
ekāśīpadaṃ veśma maṇḍapaś ca śatāṅghrikaḥ pūrvavaddevatāḥ pūjyā brahmā tu ṣoḍaśāṃśake
Le sanctuaire (veśman) doit être disposé selon le plan à quatre-vingt-un cases (ekāśīpada), et le maṇḍapa selon la mesure de cent unités (śatāṅghrika). Les divinités doivent être honorées comme il a été dit auparavant; et Brahmā doit être installé/vénéré dans la seizième division (ṣoḍaśāṃśa).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Planning a temple and maṇḍapa using standard vastu grids (81-pada) and proportional measures (śatāṅghrika), with Brahmā assigned to a specific division.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ekāśīpada Vāstu for Veśman and Śatāṅghrika Maṇḍapa; Brahmā in Ṣoḍaśāṃśa","lookup_keywords":["ekāśīpada","vāstu-maṇḍala","maṇḍapa","śatāṅghrika","ṣoḍaśāṃśa"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the temple ground-plan as an 81-square vāstu grid and the maṇḍapa by a 100-unit measure; deities are worshipped per prior scheme, with Brahmā fixed in the sixteenth division."}
Concept: Sacred space is made efficacious through correct measure (māna) and grid-order (pada-vinyāsa) aligning human construction with cosmic order.
Application: Apply the 81-pada vāstu grid and prescribed subdivisions to avoid doṣa in construction and to stabilize ritual efficacy of the shrine and hall.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Temple Architecture & Mandapa-Vidhi)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple plan drawn as an 81-square grid with a marked ṣoḍaśāṃśa sector for Brahmā; adjacent a maṇḍapa plan annotated with a 100-unit measure scale; priests worshipping the vāstu-devatās on the grid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural showing architects and priests around a large floor-drawn ekāśīpada grid, earthy pigments, bold outlines; Brahmā sector highlighted; maṇḍapa outline with measurement marks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a stylized temple blueprint with gold borders; Brahmā seated in the highlighted subdivision; ornate depiction of maṇḍapa pillars in the background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting: precise grid lines, measurement ticks for śatāṅghrika, labeled ṣoḍaśāṃśa; calm palette and technical clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of royal architects presenting a temple plan on paper/cloth to a patron; geometric 81-square grid visible; fine calligraphy notes ‘Brahmā ṣoḍaśāṃśa’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकाशीपदं = एकाशी-पदम्; मण्डपश् च = मण्डपः च; शताङ्घ्रिकः = शत-अङ्घ्रिकः; पूर्ववद्देवताः = पूर्ववत् देवताः; षोडशांशके = षोडश-अंशके
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (earlier devatā placements ‘pūrvavat’ for vāstu/maṇḍala)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-vidyā instructions: the shrine uses an 81-pada (9×9) mandala plan, the maṇḍapa follows a 100-unit modular measure, and it specifies deity-worship/installation protocol including Brahmā’s placement in the sixteenth division.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural standards—grid-based planning, proportional modules, and deity zoning—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium that includes temple design, measurement science, and ritual installation rules.
Correct measurement and deity-placement are treated as dharmic correctness in temple-building; following the prescribed mandala and honoring Brahmā in the designated division is understood to ensure ritual purity, auspiciousness, and the intended spiritual efficacy of worship.