Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 65 — सभास्थापनकथनं
Account of Establishing an Assembly-hall
यथा राज्ञां तथान्येषां पूर्वाद्याश् च ध्वजादयः कोणभुजान् वर्जयित्वा चतुःशालं तु वर्तयेत्
yathā rājñāṃ tathānyeṣāṃ pūrvādyāś ca dhvajādayaḥ koṇabhujān varjayitvā catuḥśālaṃ tu vartayet
Comme pour les rois, ainsi pour les autres, on doit disposer les marques directionnelles—à l’est et dans les autres directions—telles que bannières, drapeaux et autres. Toutefois, il faut éviter les saillies d’angle et réaliser un plan à quatre salles (quadrangulaire).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Directional planning for standards/flags and layout discipline: arrange directional markers appropriately, avoid corner projections, and implement a four-hall quadrangular plan suitable for royal and non-royal contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catuḥśālā plan and avoidance of corner projections (koṇa-bhuja-varjana)","lookup_keywords":["catushala","kona-bhuja","dhvaja","dik-vinyasa","vastu-plan"],"quick_summary":"For both royal and common constructions, directional standards like flags are to be set properly; corner projections are to be avoided, and a quadrangular four-hall plan is recommended for orderly vāstu."}
Concept: Harmony through proportion, direction, and restraint in form; avoiding irregular projections supports auspicious flow and functional clarity.
Application: Use simple, symmetric plans for public/royal buildings; place flags/standards as directional identifiers; minimize awkward corners for circulation, stability, and vāstu compliance.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Architecture & Site-Planning)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Architects lay out a square quadrangle with four halls; flags/standards mark east and other directions; corners are shown clean without protruding wings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized ground plan with directional flags, craftsmen with measuring cords, a neat quadrangular catuḥśālā, muted instructional serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, symmetrical palace/assembly quadrangle with gold-highlighted dhvaja standards at cardinal points, crisp geometry and ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical illustration feel: square plan, four halls, arrows for directions, flags labeled, emphasis on avoiding corner projections.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architects presenting a plan to a patron, flags on a courtyard building, precise geometry rendered with fine detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथान्येषां = तथा + अन्येषाम्; पूर्वाद्याश् = पूर्व-आद्याः (विसर्ग-लोप); ध्वजादयः = ध्वज-आदयः; चतुःशालं = चतुः-शालम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sabhā-sthāpana context (65.1–65.2); Agni Purana: other vāstu chapters on maṇḍapa/prāsāda plans and dik-vinyāsa
FAQs
Vāstu-vidyā guidance: place directional markers (dhvaja etc.) according to the east and other directions, avoid corner-projections, and adopt a catuḥśāla (four-wing/quadrangular) plan.
It shows the text’s practical coverage beyond theology—encoding architectural planning rules (directionality, building geometry, standardized layouts) typical of Vāstu-śāstra embedded within a Purāṇic compendium.
In Purāṇic Vāstu, correct directional order and well-formed layouts are treated as dharmic alignment of space, supporting auspiciousness and reducing doṣa (inauspicious architectural faults) for the patron and occupants.