Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
इत्य् आदि महापुराणे आग्नेये शान्त्यादिवर्णनं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुश् चत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः वासुदेवादिप्रतिमालक्षणविधिः भगवानुवाच वासुदेवादिप्रतिमालक्षणं प्रवदामि ते प्रासादस्योत्तरे पूर्वमुखीं वा चोत्तराननां
ity ādi mahāpurāṇe āgneye śāntyādivarṇanaṃ nāma tricatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ atha catuś catvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ vāsudevādipratimālakṣaṇavidhiḥ bhagavānuvāca vāsudevādipratimālakṣaṇaṃ pravadāmi te prāsādasyottare pūrvamukhīṃ vā cottarānanāṃ
Ainsi s’achève, dans l’Agni Mahāpurāṇa, le quarante-troisième chapitre intitulé «Description des rites d’apaisement et des sujets connexes». Commence maintenant le quarante-quatrième chapitre : «Procédure concernant les caractéristiques iconographiques de Vāsudeva et des autres formes (Vyūha)». Le Seigneur Bienheureux dit : «Je t’exposerai les signes distinctifs des images de Vāsudeva et des autres. (Elles doivent être placées) au nord du temple—soit tournées vers l’est, soit le visage orienté vers le nord».
Bhagavān (Lord Agni as narrator in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Temple planning and icon installation: deciding the correct placement and orientation of Vāsudeva and other Vyūha images relative to the prāsāda.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāsudevādi-pratimā: sthāna-dik (placement and orientation)","lookup_keywords":["Vāsudeva","Vyūha","pratimā-lakṣaṇa","prāsāda-uttara","pūrvamukha/uttarānana"],"quick_summary":"Vyūha images such as Vāsudeva are prescribed a specific locus in the temple plan—north of the main shrine—with permitted orientations (east-facing or north-facing), ensuring ritual and spatial correctness."}
Concept: Sacred space is ordered; deity-presence is stabilized through correct dik (direction) and sthāna (placement).
Application: When designing/renovating a shrine or installing images, follow prescribed directional zoning to avoid ritual faults (doṣa) and to align worship with āgamic intent.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi & Vastu (Temple iconography and installation rules)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple plan with the main prāsāda at center; to its north, a pedestal with Vāsudeva’s image being installed, with arrows indicating east-facing or north-facing orientation; priests and sthapati present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, Vaiṣṇava icon installation scene: prāsāda plan, Vāsudeva murti on a pedestal north of shrine, priests with lamps, sthapati indicating directions, ornate borders, traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on Vāsudeva’s crown and ornaments, temple backdrop, the murti placed north of the sanctum, priests offering ārati, directional symbols subtly shown, jewel-like detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional composition showing prāsāda and north placement, labels for pūrva/uttara, sthapati holding measuring cord, calm ritual atmosphere.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural plan rendered with precision, artisans and Brahmins in courtly attire, Vāsudeva image being oriented east/north, delicate foliage margins, fine detailing and perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity ādi → iti ādi; tricatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ → tricatvāriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ; catuś catvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ → catuḥcatvāriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ; bhagavānuvāca → bhagavān uvāca; prāsādasyottare → prāsādasya uttare; vā cottarānanāṃ → vā ca uttarānanām.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: pratimā-lakṣaṇa and prāsāda/maṇḍala sections (adjacent chapters in the 40s); Agni Purāṇa: śānti/bali/nyāsa-related material in preceding chapter context
FAQs
It introduces Vaiṣṇava iconography (pratimā-lakṣaṇa) and gives a vastu-based placement rule: Vāsudeva-related icons are to be positioned on the north side of the temple, oriented eastward or northward.
It shifts from śānti (pacificatory rites) into a new technical chapter on temple practice—codifying iconographic standards and spatial orientation, showing the text’s coverage of ritual, architecture (vāstu), and image-making norms.
Correct placement and orientation of a deity’s image is treated as essential for proper worship (pūjā) and for ensuring auspiciousness (śānti) and the intended religious merit from temple rites.