Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
त्रिभागेणार्धभागेन वेदिं कुर्यात्तु शोभनाम् प्रतिमाद्रव्यमुच्यते इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गर्भसूत्रन्तु निर्मायेति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कलशैर् घटिकाभिश् च वितानाद्यैश् च भूषयेत्
tribhāgeṇārdhabhāgena vediṃ kuryāttu śobhanām pratimādravyamucyate iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ garbhasūtrantu nirmāyeti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kalaśair ghaṭikābhiś ca vitānādyaiś ca bhūṣayet
Avec la mesure d’un tiers et d’une moitié (selon la proportion prescrite), on doit construire l’autel (vedī) d’une manière harmonieuse. (Dans certaines leçons manuscrites marquées, il est ajouté : « le matériau de l’image est indiqué » et « le garbha-sūtra doit être réalisé ».) On doit l’orner de vases rituels (kalaśa), de petits pots (ghaṭikā), de dais (vitāna) et d’autres décorations semblables.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Construction and beautification guidance: proportioning the vedi (altar) and adorning the ritual space with kalaśas, small pots, and canopies; also notes variant manuscript readings about icon material and garbha-sūtra making.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vedi proportions and ritual adornment (kalaśa, ghaṭikā, vitāna)","lookup_keywords":["vedī nirmāṇa","tribhāga","ardhabhāga","kalaśa","vitāna"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes proportional measures for constructing a pleasing altar and instructs adorning it with pots and canopies; acknowledges textual variants concerning icon material and garbha-sūtra preparation."}
Concept: Sacred action requires well-proportioned supports and auspicious beautification; aesthetics (śobhanatā) is treated as a functional component of rite.
Application: When setting up a consecration/yāga, build the vedi to prescribed proportions and decorate with vessels/canopies to mark sanctity and readiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vastu (Vedi-nirmana and Mandapa-alankara)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A freshly built altar platform measured by thirds and halves, decorated with rows of kalaśas and small pots, with a canopy overhead and festive ritual hangings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bright vedi platform with geometric floor patterns, multiple kalaśas and ghaṭikās, large vitāna canopy, priests arranging decorations, stylized flora borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, vedi adorned with gold-highlighted pots and canopy tassels, symmetrical composition, rich reds/greens, embossed gold for vessels and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear proportional depiction of vedi (third/half measures), neat arrangement of kalaśas and canopy supports, fine linework, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with decorated altar, many vessels rendered with metallic sheen, canopy fabric patterns, attendants placing items, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tribhāgeṇārdhabhāgena = tri-bhāgena ardha-bhāgena; kuryāttu = kuryāt tu; pratimādravyamucyate = pratimā-dravyam ucyate; garbhasūtrantu = garbha-sūtram tu; kalaśair ghaṭikābhiś ca = kalaśaiḥ ghaṭikābhiḥ ca; vitānādyaiś ca = vitāna-ādyaiḥ ca. Editorial notes (kha/ṅa readings) omitted from pada list except affected words.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (mandapa/vedi/kalaśa sequence); Agni Purana 55 (piṇḍikā and related installation preliminaries)
FAQs
It gives practical altar-making guidance: construct the vedi using prescribed proportions (one-third and one-half measures) and then ritually adorn the space with kalaśas, small vessels, and canopies—standard elements of mandapa/vedi setup in pūjā and pratiṣṭhā.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-architecture (vāstu) and ceremonial logistics—measurements, layout principles, and decorative requirements—showing the text’s breadth across temple practice, construction norms, and consecration procedure.
Accurate proportioning and proper adornment sanctify the ritual ground, supporting purity (śauca), correctness (vidhi), and effective consecration; this is understood to enhance the merit (puṇya) and efficacy of the rite performed on the vedi.