Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 45 — Piṇḍikā-Lakṣaṇa
Characteristics and Measurements of the Pedestal/Plinth
ऊर्ध्वं पङ्ग्क्तिद्वयं त्यक्त्वा अधस्ताद् यत्तु कोष्ठकम् अन्तः सम्मार्जयेत् यत्नात् पार्श्वयोरुभयोः समम्
ūrdhvaṃ paṅgktidvayaṃ tyaktvā adhastād yattu koṣṭhakam antaḥ sammārjayet yatnāt pārśvayorubhayoḥ samam
En laissant de côté les deux lignes supérieures, on doit, avec soin, balayer et nettoyer de l’intérieur le compartiment (koṣṭhaka) situé au-dessous, avec application et d’une manière égale sur les deux côtés.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Cleanliness protocol during layout/compartment preparation: sweeping the interior of a marked compartment evenly, maintaining symmetry and ritual/functional purity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Koṣṭhaka-antar-mārjana (even interior sweeping/cleaning)","lookup_keywords":["mārjana","koṣṭhaka","pankti-dvaya","samatā","śauca"],"quick_summary":"After leaving two upper lines/rows, sweep the interior of the lower compartment carefully and evenly on both sides to maintain clean, symmetrical preparation."}
Concept: Śauca and samatā (cleanliness and symmetry) as disciplines that support auspicious, error-free work.
Application: Adopt even, effortful cleaning as a standard step before writing, marking, or constructing compartments.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Griha-shaucha (Architectural planning and ritual cleanliness)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worker/scribe sweeps the inside of a rectangular compartment below two reserved lines, ensuring both side margins are equally cleaned.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; a clean rectangular koṣṭhaka area below two blank bands, a figure sweeping with a small broom, symmetrical margins emphasized, muted ochres and reds, temple-workshop feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents; a neat compartment framed like a panel, attendant sweeping evenly on both sides, ornamental border suggesting auspicious cleanliness, rich saturated colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional composition; diagram-like compartment with two upper reserved lines, arrows indicating sweeping direction from within, artisan performing mārjana, soft shading and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature atelier; meticulous servant sweeping a ruled compartment on a large folio/board, master overseeing symmetry, fine textiles and patterned floor, precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yattu = yat + tu; pārśvayorubhayoḥ = pārśvayoḥ + ubhayoḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 45.2 (koṣṭhaka and margin cleaning); Agni Purana 45.4 (division of lines/parts)
FAQs
It teaches a practical shaucha-procedure: clean an enclosed compartment (koṣṭhaka) methodically—starting with the lower section, leaving the upper two lines/rows aside, and sweeping evenly along both sides for thorough purification.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied instructions for daily and ritual life—here, a precise, almost procedural guideline for maintaining cleanliness in built spaces, aligning with its Vastu and ritual-practice coverage.
Physical cleanliness is treated as a support for ritual purity (śuddhi); maintaining an evenly cleansed inner space reduces impurity (mala) and supports orderly worship, discipline, and auspiciousness in a dwelling or sacred structure.