Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
वैपुल्यं चास्य कुर्वीत षोडशाङ्गुलसन्मितं सप्तहस्तोच्छ्रितं वास्य कुर्यात् कुण्डं सुरोत्तम
vaipulyaṃ cāsya kurvīta ṣoḍaśāṅgulasanmitaṃ saptahastocchritaṃ vāsya kuryāt kuṇḍaṃ surottama
Ô meilleur des dieux, qu’on en fasse aussi la largeur mesurée à seize aṅgulas ; et pour cela qu’on construise le kuṇḍa, la fosse rituelle du feu, d’une hauteur de sept hastas.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Standardizing homa-kuṇḍa/yajña-vedī dimensions for safe, ritually valid construction and consistent offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Homa-kuṇḍa breadth and height measurements","lookup_keywords":["kuṇḍa-māna","ṣoḍaśāṅgula","sapta-hasta","yajña-vedī","homa-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes the breadth (16 aṅgulas) and height (7 hastas) for constructing the fire-pit, ensuring correct ritual geometry and functional airflow/space."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct māna (measure) and proper construction.
Application: Use standardized units (aṅgula, hasta) and verify proportions before consecration and homa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa-kunda & Yajna-vedi measurements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual artisan measures and constructs a homa-kuṇḍa beside a yajña-vedī, marking aṅgulas on a measuring rod and indicating the seven-hasta elevation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest and sthapati measuring a homa-kuṇḍa with a wooden daṇḍa, sacred fire tools arranged, stylized architecture, flat perspective, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kuṇḍa with gold-leaf highlights on ritual implements, priest in white, measuring marks emphasized, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework showing measurement steps, labeled aṅgula and hasta marks, calm ritual setting with vedī geometry, soft shading and delicate detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop-like ritual courtyard, artisans measuring brick courses, precise geometry, fine textiles, subtle color gradients, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāsya = ca + asya; ṣoḍaśāṅgulasanmitaṃ resolved as ṣoḍaśa-aṅgula-sanmitaṃ; saptahastocchritaṃ = sapta-hasta-ucchritaṃ; vāsya = vā + asya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on vedī/kuṇḍa construction and homa-lakṣaṇa (nearby verses in adhyāya 56)
FAQs
It gives precise construction measurements for a homa-kuṇḍa: the breadth is set to sixteen aṅgulas and the structure is specified as seven hastas in height/elevation.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-technology—standardized units (aṅgula, hasta) and build-specifications for yajña infrastructure—showing the text’s coverage of ritual engineering and Vāstu-style measurement systems.
Correctly measured and constructed ritual implements are traditionally held to ensure the rite’s efficacy (siddhi) and purity, supporting orderly worship and the intended merit (puṇya) of homa.