Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
हव्यवाहञ्च पूर्वाणि वितथं भौममेव च कृतान्तमथ गन्धर्वं भृगं मृगञ्च दक्षिणे
havyavāhañca pūrvāṇi vitathaṃ bhaumameva ca kṛtāntamatha gandharvaṃ bhṛgaṃ mṛgañca dakṣiṇe
Dans la direction de l’Est, on doit placer (invoquer) Havyavāha (Agni), Pūrvāṇi, Vitatha et Bhauma (Mars) ; et dans la direction du Sud, Kṛtānta (Yama), Gandharva, Bhṛgu et Mṛga.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual/directional placement tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Dik-nyāsa in pūjā/maṇḍala: assigning specific devatā-seats to the East and South to stabilize the ritual space and protect the sādhaka.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pūrvā–Dakṣiṇa Dikdevatā-nyāsa (Havyavāha–Kṛtāntaādi)","lookup_keywords":["dik-nyasa","Havyavaha","Krtanta","mandala-devata","purva-daksina"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a placement-list for eastern and southern quarters in maṇḍala/nyāsa: Agni and allied names in the East; Yama and allied names in the South, to be invoked/installed in their respective directions."}
Concept: Ritual space becomes a microcosm when dik-devatās are installed in their proper quarters.
Application: Before japa/homa/pūjā, perform dik-nyāsa to reduce obstacles and maintain correct orientation of offerings and mantras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mandala-Devata-Nyasa (Directional deities and placement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala/altar seen from above, with the eastern quadrant marked by Agni (Havyavāha) and the southern quadrant marked by Yama (Kṛtānta), each surrounded by their associated names as seated presences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, top-down maṇḍala with bold flat colors, Agni in the East with flames and ladle, Yama in the South with dark complexion and staff, Sanskrit labels around quadrants, sacred geometry borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf maṇḍala border, Agni enthroned in East with aureole and flames, Yama enthroned in South with ornate jewelry, quarter divisions clearly gilded, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework instructional diagram of maṇḍala quarters, small deity figures placed in East and South with captions, muted palette, emphasis on layout clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision diagram of a ritual pavilion, officiant pointing to East and South placements, delicate calligraphy labels, fine geometric floor pattern"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हव्यवाहञ्च → हव्यवाहम् + च; मृगञ्च → मृगम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 105 (Pūjā-vidhi: maṇḍala-devatā-nyāsa context)
FAQs
It gives a dik-vinyāsa (directional assignment) used in pūjā/maṇḍala/nyāsa—specifying which deities are to be placed or contemplated in the East and South for protection and correct ritual mapping.
By cataloging precise ritual-technical data (directional deity grids), it functions like a practical handbook—one of the Agni Purana’s many “how-to” lists spanning worship procedure, iconography, and applied religious technology.
Correctly situating deities by direction is held to align the rite with cosmic order (ṛta), strengthening protective efficacy, removing obstacles, and ensuring the offering/nyāsa yields intended merit without ritual misplacement.