Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 15
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
दक्षिणे चाक्षसूत्रञ्च स्रुवो वामे तु कुण्डिका आज्यस्थाली सरस्वती सावित्री वामदक्षिणे
dakṣiṇe cākṣasūtrañca sruvo vāme tu kuṇḍikā ājyasthālī sarasvatī sāvitrī vāmadakṣiṇe
À droite doit se trouver l’akṣasūtra (chapelet) ; à gauche, le sruva (louche rituelle) et la kuṇḍikā (vase à eau). On placera aussi l’ājyasthālī, le récipient du ghee, et les déesses Sarasvatī et Sāvitrī seront disposées à gauche et à droite.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Ritual arrangement (nyasa/placement) of Brahma-related implements and attendant goddesses in a worship setting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Puja-upakarana placement: akshasutra, sruva, kundika, ajyasthali; Sarasvati and Savitri positions","lookup_keywords":["akshasutra placement","sruva kundika","ajyasthali","Sarasvati Savitri left right","puja arrangement"],"quick_summary":"Place the rosary to the right, ladle and water-pot to the left, set the ghee-vessel, and position Sarasvati and Savitri on the left and right—guiding correct altar/icon arrangement."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct krama (order) and dik (directional) placement of upakaranas and devatas.
Application: Use as a checklist for setting up a Brahma-oriented puja or for arranging a shrine panel with attendant deities.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and ritual arrangement of deities/implements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An altar layout showing right-side rosary, left-side ladle and water-pot, a ghee vessel, and two goddesses (Sarasvati and Savitri) flanking the central deity/seat in a ritual arrangement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, schematic yet ornate puja-mandala: clearly placed akshasutra on right, sruva and kundika on left, ajyasthali centered, Sarasvati and Savitri as graceful attendants, temple interior feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly decorated altar scene with gold highlights on vessels, Sarasvati with veena and Savitri with lotus, symmetrical flanking, clear placement of rosary/ladle/water-pot/ghee vessel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram style: labeled implements (akshasutra, sruva, kundika, ajyasthali) with left-right orientation, Sarasvati and Savitri positioned as per rule, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a priest arranging ritual implements on a low platform, Sarasvati and Savitri depicted as attendant figures in the background niches, meticulous rendering of vessels and ladle."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cākṣasūtrañca → ca akṣa-sūtram ca; vāmadakṣiṇe → vāma-dakṣiṇe (dvandva, locative singular).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (puja-vidhi and deity arrangement around Brahma)
FAQs
It prescribes the vinyāsa (ritual placement) of key worship implements—rosary (akṣasūtra), offering ladle (sruva), water-pot (kuṇḍikā), and ghee vessel (ājyasthālī)—and indicates the side-placement of Sarasvatī and Sāvitrī in the worship setup.
Beyond mythic narration, it records practical liturgical protocol—how objects and attendant deities are spatially arranged—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual technology alongside theology.
Correct placement of implements and śakti-attendants is treated as part of ritual correctness (vidhi), supporting purity, concentration, and the intended efficacy (phala) of japa and offerings.