Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
लक्ष्मीवैश्रवणौ पूर्वं दक्षे मातृगणं न्यसेत् स्कन्दं गणेशमीशानं सूर्यादीन् पश्चिमे ग्रहान्
lakṣmīvaiśravaṇau pūrvaṃ dakṣe mātṛgaṇaṃ nyaset skandaṃ gaṇeśamīśānaṃ sūryādīn paścime grahān
D’abord, on placera Lakṣmī et Vaiśravaṇa dans le quartier de l’est ; à droite (côté sud) on installera le groupe des Déesses-Mères (Mātṛ-gaṇa) ; puis Skanda, Gaṇeśa et Īśāna ; et dans le quartier de l’ouest, les planètes en commençant par le Soleil.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual procedure, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Directional placement of specific deities in a maṇḍala/ālaya for pūjā: assigning Lakṣmī–Vaiśravaṇa to east, Mātṛgaṇa to south/right, Skanda–Gaṇeśa–Īśāna to the next station, and Navagrahas to the west starting with Sūrya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-sthāpanā: Lakṣmī–Vaiśravaṇa, Mātṛgaṇa, Skanda–Gaṇeśa–Īśāna, Navagraha placement","lookup_keywords":["Lakshmi","Vaishravana","Matrigana","Navagraha","Suryadi"],"quick_summary":"For ritual layout, place Lakṣmī and Kubera in the east, the Mothers to the south, Skanda–Gaṇeśa–Īśāna in their assigned station, and the planetary deities in the west beginning with the Sun."}
Concept: Ritual cosmogram: prosperity (Lakṣmī/Kubera), protection (Mātṛs), obstacle-clearing (Gaṇeśa), leadership (Skanda), and cosmic regulation (Grahas) are spatially harmonized around the worship center.
Application: When designing pūjā space, keep functional deity-groups in stable positions to support intended fruits (śrī, rakṣā, vighna-śānti, graha-śānti).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mandala-nyasa (Ritual iconography and placement of deities)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square maṇḍala with labeled quarters: east shows Lakṣmī and Kubera; south shows a row of Mātṛs; another station shows Skanda, Gaṇeśa, Īśāna; west shows Navagrahas with Sūrya leading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, quartered mandala composition, Lakṣmī and Kubera in east panel, fierce yet protective Mātṛs in south, Skanda with spear and Gaṇeśa with modaka beside Īśāna, Navagrahas in west with Sūrya radiant","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented deity panels around a central empty sanctum marker, gold leaf halos for Lakṣmī and Sūrya, embossed frames for Navagrahas, jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional layout with neat deity vignettes in each direction, soft colors, clear labels and sequence starting with Sūrya","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a ritual floor diagram with small painted icons placed by attendants, fine detailing of graha symbols and directional markers"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लक्ष्मीवैश्रवणौ = लक्ष्मी-वैश्रवणौ (dvandva); सूर्यादीन् = सूर्य-आदीन्; गणेशमीशानं = गणेशम् + ईशानम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43 (devatā-nyāsa lists and directional placements)
FAQs
It teaches the devatā-sthāpana/nyāsa sequence: which deities are to be installed in specific directions of a ritual mandala—Lakṣmī-Kubera in the east, Mātṛkās on the right (south), key deities like Skanda–Gaṇeśa–Īśāna, and the Navagrahas in the west.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual manual character by combining iconographic placement (vāstu/mandala logic) with Jyotiṣa elements (graha-deities), showing how worship, spatial design, and planetary theology are integrated.
Directional installation is meant to harmonize the worship space with cosmic order (dik and graha principles), supporting auspiciousness, removal of obstacles (Gaṇeśa), protection (Skanda/Īśāna), prosperity (Lakṣmī–Kubera), and pacification of planetary influences (Navagrahas).