Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
यत्पाद्योकः प्रवक्ष्यामि सङ्क्षेपेण क्रमाद् गुह इति ख , छ च ब्रह्मान्ताः षोडशांशके इति ग , ज च पृथ्वीधरन्तथेति ख त्वन्येवेशादिके गणा इति ख , छ च दैत्यमाता भवेशाग्नी इति ख दैत्यमाता हरेशाग्नी इति घ , ज च यज्ञाद्योक इति ङ सदिग्विंशत्करैर् दैर्घ्यादष्टाविंशति विस्तरात्
yatpādyokaḥ pravakṣyāmi saṅkṣepeṇa kramād guha iti kha , cha ca brahmāntāḥ ṣoḍaśāṃśake iti ga , ja ca pṛthvīdharantatheti kha tvanyeveśādike gaṇā iti kha , cha ca daityamātā bhaveśāgnī iti kha daityamātā hareśāgnī iti gha , ja ca yajñādyoka iti ṅa sadigviṃśatkarair dairghyādaṣṭāviṃśati vistarāt
Je vais maintenant énoncer, dans l’ordre et brièvement, les canons (architecturaux) commençant par la classe « Guhā » et les autres—(selon certaines recensions) : jusqu’à la classe « Brahmā », avec une division en seize parts ; de même « Pṛthvīdhara » et autres ; et les groupes de types commençant par « Veśa/semblables à Veśa ». Dans des lectures variantes, on les donne comme « Daityamātā–Bhaveśa–Agnī » ou « Daityamātā–Hareśa–Agnī » ; et aussi l’ensemble commençant par « Yajña ». La longueur est de cent vingt coudées, et la largeur de vingt-huit.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Classifying temple/building types (guhā etc.) and fixing canonical dimensions (length/breadth) for planning and construction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Prāsāda-bheda (Guhā–Brahmā etc.) and canonical āyāma-vistāra (120×28 hastas)","lookup_keywords":["Guhā-prāsāda","Brahmā-prāsāda","Pṛthvīdhara","triṃśāṃśa/ṣoḍaśāṃśa","120 hasta 28 hasta"],"quick_summary":"Gives a compressed canon of prāsāda/type groupings (with noted recension-variants) and states a standard length and breadth used as a planning baseline for certain layouts."}
Concept: Śāstra-pramāṇa in construction: typology and measurement are authoritative, including awareness of pāṭha-bheda (recensional variants).
Application: When drafting a temple plan, select the prāsāda-type from the canon, apply the stated baseline dimensions, and document variant nomenclature if working across regional textual traditions.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Temple architecture, iconometry, and measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An architect (sthapati) presenting a palm-leaf plan showing prāsāda categories labeled Guhā, Brahmā, Pṛthvīdhara, Veśa, with a measuring cord and marked 120×28 hasta rectangle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sthapati with measuring cord (rajju) and stylus, large rectangular plan with bold labels, earthy palette, temple workshop setting with pillars and tools.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, sthapati seated with palm-leaf manuscript, gold-highlighted measuring grid, miniature prāsāda silhouettes around the border, ornate frame and halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional architectural plate: clean grid, dimension lines for 120 and 28 hastas, small legend listing Guhā/Brahmā/Pṛthvīdhara, fine detailing and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court atelier scene: master builder showing a scaled drawing to patrons, precise geometry, rulers and compasses, floral margins, crisp annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्पाद्योकः = यत् + पाद्योकः; क्रमाद् गुह = क्रमात् + गुह; पृथ्वीधरन्तथा = पृथ्वीधरम् + तथा; त्वन्ये = तु + अन्ये; सदिग्विंशत्करैर् = स + दिग्विंशत्करैः; दैर्घ्यादष्टाविंशति = दैर्घ्यात् + अष्टाविंशति
Related Themes: Agni Purana 42–44 (Śilpa/Vāstu materials in many recensions); Agni Purana 105.19–105.20 (continuation of measurements)
FAQs
It transmits Vāstu-śāstra technical data: named temple/prāsāda type-series (e.g., Guhā, Pṛthvīdhara, Brahmā, Yajña) and a concrete dimensional standard—length 120 cubits and breadth 28 cubits—used for planning and proportioning structures.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied sciences like architecture: it catalogs typologies (gaṇas) and modular measurement rules, functioning like a technical handbook embedded within a Purāṇic corpus.
By prescribing orthodox classifications and measurements for sacred structures, it supports ritually correct temple construction—understood to stabilize worship, uphold dharma, and yield religious merit through properly established sacred space.