Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
शिशिराश्रयः शिवाख्यश् च रुद्रहीनः सदोभयोः रुद्रद्विगुणिता नाहाः पृथुष्णोभिर्विना त्रिभिः
śiśirāśrayaḥ śivākhyaś ca rudrahīnaḥ sadobhayoḥ rudradviguṇitā nāhāḥ pṛthuṣṇobhirvinā tribhiḥ
(On compte) « Śiśirāśraya » et aussi « Śivākhya » ; « Rudrahīna » ; « Sadobhaya ». Le groupe « Nāhā » est fixé en nombre comme « double-Rudra » ; et il est dénombré sans les trois appelés « Pṛthuṣṇu ».
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic technical enumerations)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Technical nomenclature and counting rules for astral groups used in calendrical/astronomical tabulation and interpretive mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nakṣatra/rāśi-gaṇa nāma-saṅkhyā (Śiśirāśraya, Śivākhya, Rudrahīna, Sadobhaya; Nāhā count; exclusion of Pṛthuṣṇu-traya)","lookup_keywords":["Śiśirāśraya","Rudrahīna","Sadobhaya","Nāhā gaṇa","Pṛthuṣṇu"],"quick_summary":"Defines a set of technical group-names and a counting rule (‘twice-Rudra’ number) with an explicit exclusion of three items; useful for correct enumeration in jyotiṣa tables."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā-niyama (rule-governed enumeration) as a prerequisite for reliable jyotiṣa computation and interpretation.
Application: When compiling or using a list-based jyotiṣa table, apply the stated inclusion/exclusion rule to avoid off-by-three errors in group counts.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Nakshatra–Rashi Nomenclature (Astral and calendrical technical lists)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe-astronomer marking a table of star-groups with headings Śiśirāśraya, Śivākhya, Rudrahīna, Sadobhaya; a side note ‘Nāhā = 2×Rudra’ and ‘exclude Pṛthuṣṇu (3)’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, astrologer with palm-leaf ledger, stylized star symbols above, bold Devanagari headings, warm earthy tones, decorative border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript page with gold accents, star medallions for each group-name, embossed border, rich reds and greens, clear labels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic chart: neat columns, count formula written prominently, small star icons, fine linework for readability.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar in a library with celestial globe and manuscript, marginal floral illumination, precise calligraphy for the group names and counting rule."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिवाख्यश् च = शिवाख्यः + च; सदोभयोः = सदः + उभयोः; पृथुष्णोभिर्विना = पृथुष्णोभिः + विना
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (nakṣatra/rāśi technical lists nearby)
FAQs
It teaches a Jyotiṣa-style enumeration: specific technical names are listed, a count is given using the idiom “twice-Rudra” (22), and a triad termed “Pṛthuṣṇu” is explicitly excluded from the reckoning.
Rather than narrative theology, it preserves compact catalog-style data—names, counts, and inclusion/exclusion rules—typical of reference material used in Jyotiṣa, calendrics, and traditional scholarly indexing.
Such correct naming and counting supports accurate calendrical/astral reckoning used for timing rites; precision in these technical lists is traditionally linked with performing rituals at proper times and thus securing their intended merit (puṇya).