Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 37
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
यागमण्डपाङ्गेण वा यूपब्रस्केति मन्त्रतः स्थाप्य तद्वेष्टयेद्वस्त्रैर् यूपोपरि पताकिकां
yāgamaṇḍapāṅgeṇa vā yūpabrasketi mantrataḥ sthāpya tadveṣṭayedvastrair yūpopari patākikāṃ
L’ayant installé avec le mantra « yāgamaṇḍapāṅgeṇa » ou avec le mantra « yūpabraska », on l’enveloppera de tissus et l’on placera un petit étendard au sommet du yūpa.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions, traditionally to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Use specified installation mantras for yūpa/maṇḍapa integration, then complete external sanctification by cloth-wrapping and raising a banner for visibility and auspicious marking.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Yūpa-sthāpana mantras and external consecration (cloth wrap, banner)","lookup_keywords":["yāgamaṇḍapāṅgeṇa","yūpabraska","yūpa","veṣṭana","patākā"],"quick_summary":"Install the yūpa with the stated mantras, then wrap it in cloth and place a small banner atop—ritual sealing plus auspicious public sign."}
Concept: Mantra as the activating principle for installation; external markers (cloth, banner) as completion of saṃskāra.
Application: Recite the correct mantra at the moment of fixing; then seal and mark the installation to maintain sanctity and ritual order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajna-vidhi / Agni-karya: sacrificial pavilion and yupa installation)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yāga pavilion with a newly erected yūpa; priests chant while wrapping the post in clean cloth; a small triangular banner is fixed at the top, fluttering above the pavilion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, pavilion with carved pillars, yūpa wrapped in white cloth bands, priests in chanting posture, small red banner atop, stylized sound-lines and sacred motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted banner and cloth borders, yūpa central and luminous, priests with ritual implements, ornate pavilion arch, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional scene: mantra recitation indicated by palm-leaf text strip, cloth wrapping shown in sequence, banner attachment detail, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion setting, detailed textiles wrapping the yūpa, attendants holding banner pole, calligraphic cartouche with mantra names, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यागमण्डपाङ्गेण = याग-मण्डप-अङ्गेण; यूपब्रस्केति = यूप-ब्रस्क-इति; तद्वेष्टयेद्वस्त्रैः = तत् वेष्टयेत् वस्त्रैः; यूपोपरि = यूप-उपरि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64.34-38 (sequence: placement → measurement/material → mantra-installation → offerings/dakṣiṇā)
FAQs
It prescribes the mantra-governed installation of the yūpa (sacrificial post) and its formal decoration—wrapping with cloth and placing a pennant—indicating correct yajña-maṇḍapa setup protocol.
Beyond theology, it records precise operational details of ritual infrastructure (posts, coverings, banners) and mantra-application, preserving a practical manual-like layer of yajña technology within a Purāṇic compendium.
Mantra-based installation and orderly adornment sanctify the yajña-space, supporting ritual purity (śuddhi) and correctness (vidhi), which are traditionally held to ensure the intended merit (puṇya) and efficacy of the sacrifice.