Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 22
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
कर्तुश्चाङ्गविकारेण जानीयात्तत्प्रमाणतः पश्वादीनां प्रवेशेन कीर्तनैर् विरुतैर् दिशः
kartuścāṅgavikāreṇa jānīyāttatpramāṇataḥ paśvādīnāṃ praveśena kīrtanair virutair diśaḥ
On doit discerner le résultat à attendre d’après les modifications corporelles de l’officiant, selon les indications établies ; et l’on doit aussi déterminer les directions pertinentes d’après l’entrée des animaux et autres, ainsi que d’après leurs cris, appels et sons.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading outcomes and directions through bodily changes of the ritual agent and through animal entry and vocalizations—applied to decision-making in rites, travel, or medical procedures.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Dik-nirṇaya and phala-jñāna from aṅga-vikāra and paśu-śabda (śakuna)","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","aṅga-vikāra","dik-nirṇaya","paśu-praveśa","viruta"],"quick_summary":"Determine expected results from bodily omens of the doer and infer relevant directions from animals’ entry and their cries/sounds, following established omen-correlations."}
Concept: Nimitta-pramāṇa: correlating observable signs (body changes, animal behavior, sounds) with outcomes and spatial direction.
Application: Before initiating an act, observe bodily twitches/changes and environmental animal-signs to choose auspicious direction/timing or to postpone.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-Jyotisha (Omens and augury; nimitta-shastra)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An augur observes the doer’s bodily signs (twitches/changes) while animals enter from a direction and cry; the observer maps these to directional indications and outcomes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated śakuna-vid with palm-leaf notes, a figure showing subtle bodily twitch, animals (dog, bird) entering from one side, sound-lines indicating calls, directional corner markers, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned augur with manuscript, gold accents on directional compass motif, animals entering from a highlighted side, stylized sound motifs, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: compass directions, doer with marked body-points, animals at edges with labeled cries, clean and pedagogic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with astrologer/augur observing a patron, animals and birds entering from a gate, delicate rendering of gestures and attentive faces, subtle directional cues via architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्तुश्चाङ्गविकारेण = कर्तुः + च + अङ्गविकारेण (ः + च → श्च; च + अ → चा). जानीयात्तत्प्रमाणतः = जानीयात् + तत् + प्रमाणतः (त् + त → त्त).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śakuna-Jyotiṣa chapters on aṅga-phala, śabda-nimitta, and dik-śakuna; Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections where omens govern continuation/cessation of rites
FAQs
It teaches nimitta-jñāna: interpreting outcomes from bodily signs of the person undertaking an act, and inferring directional indications from animals’ entry and their vocalizations.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical applied sciences like omenology (shakuna/nimitta), giving rule-based methods to assess auspiciousness and situational cues for decision-making.
By acting with attentiveness to auspicious and inauspicious signs, one avoids improper timing or direction in undertakings and rituals, thereby reducing error (doṣa) and supporting dharmic, orderly action.