Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
अपाठः धारणीं धरणीं विद्धि इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पार्थिवं पृथिवीतलमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पार्थिवं पृथिवीजलमिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः रसमास्थाय दर्शनं रसमाह्वादि दर्शनमिति ख, चिह्नितप्सुअतकपाठः निश् चलत्वञ्च गर्भोस्या अधिष्ठाता तु केशवः एवमेव हरिः साक्षात्प्रासादत्वेन संस्थितः
apāṭhaḥ dhāraṇīṃ dharaṇīṃ viddhi iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pārthivaṃ pṛthivītalamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pārthivaṃ pṛthivījalamiti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ rasamāsthāya darśanaṃ rasamāhvādi darśanamiti kha, cihnitapsuatakapāṭhaḥ niś calatvañca garbhosyā adhiṣṭhātā tu keśavaḥ evameva hariḥ sākṣātprāsādatvena saṃsthitaḥ
« (Certains manuscrits lisent :) “Sache que dhāraṇī est dharaṇī.” » (Les leçons marquées disent :) « L’élément terrestre (pārthiva) est la surface de la terre », ou « l’élément terrestre est l’eau de la terre ». (Une autre leçon marquée :) « La perception (darśana) naît en s’appuyant sur rasa (essence/saveur) », ou « la perception est ce qui commence par l’invocation/la mise au jour de rasa ». De plus, la chambre du sanctuaire (garbha) possède stabilité et immobilité ; sa divinité présidente est Keśava. Ainsi, Hari lui-même est directement établi sous la forme du temple (prāsāda).
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Establishes garbhagṛha symbolism and presiding deity (Keśava), and preserves variant readings for technical terms—useful for temple planning, textual transmission, and ritual identification of the sanctum as Hari’s embodied seat.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Garbha (Sanctum) Steadiness and Keśava as Adhiṣṭhātā; Variant Readings on Pārthiva and Rasa–Darśana","lookup_keywords":["garbha","Keśava","adhiṣṭhātā","pārthiva","rasa-darśana"],"quick_summary":"Notes textual variants on ‘dhāraṇī/dharaṇī’ and definitions of ‘pārthiva’, then affirms the garbha’s immobility and Keśava as its presiding deity—concluding that Hari is directly established as the temple itself."}
Concept: Sacred space theology: the temple is not merely a container but Hari’s manifest form; the garbha’s stillness signifies unwavering divine presence.
Application: In design and ritual, prioritize sanctum stability, controlled access, and devotional orientation recognizing Keśava as adhiṣṭhātā of the garbha.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa (Temple Architecture & Sacred Space)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cutaway view of a temple showing the garbhagṛha as a still, dark womb-chamber with Keśava presiding; scribes in the margin compare variant manuscript readings on key terms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple interior cutaway with glowing Keśava in the garbha, strong emphasis on stillness and symmetry; side panel showing palm-leaf manuscripts with variant readings.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: sanctum with Keśava idol richly gilded, gold-leaf aura; architectural cutaway framed with ornate borders; small inset of manuscript variants as decorative cartouches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional architectural section drawing of garbhagṛha labeled ‘niścalatva’, with Keśava indicated as adhiṣṭhātā; neat marginal notes on dhāraṇī/dharaṇī and pārthiva.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined cut-section of a temple with sanctum chamber, Keśava seated within; scholars comparing manuscripts at the side, delicate calligraphic annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Text contains multiple critical apparatus notes (apāṭhaḥ, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ, sigla ṅa/kha/ga) and some corrupt segments (psuataka, māhvādi). niś calatvañca normalized to niḥcalatvam + ca; garbhosyā → garbhaḥ + asyāḥ; sākṣātprāsādatvena → sākṣāt + prāsādatvena.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61 (prāsāda-lakṣaṇa and garbha discussion); Agni Purana passages assigning deities to directions/parts of temple (where present)
FAQs
It links Vāstu-technical concepts (garbha/inner sanctum, stability of the core, presiding deity) with theology: the sanctum is presided over by Keśava, and the temple is treated as Hari’s manifest form, guiding installation and consecration intent.
It preserves multiple manuscript readings on tattva-definitions (pārthiva as earth-surface vs earth-water; rasa-based cognition) while simultaneously giving Vāstu doctrine (garbha and its adhiṣṭhātā), showing the text’s blend of philosophy, ritual practice, and architecture.
By identifying the temple—especially the garbha-gṛha—as Hari’s direct presence under Keśava’s lordship, the verse sacralizes construction and worship: building, maintaining, and entering the sanctum is treated as direct devotion to Viṣṇu with purificatory merit.