Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 24
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
अवर्गे चैव लोहन्तु कवर्गे ऽङ्गारमग्नितः भूमिं संसिच्य संस्थाप्येति ग , घ , ङ च कुद्दालाख्यमिति ग पूर्वमीशान्तमिति ख स्रावयेत् इति ख नव चेत् प्रश्नाक्षराणि भाषन्ते इति ग , घ च पूर्वादीनां तत इति ख चवर्गे भस्म दक्षे स्याट् टवर्गे ऽस्थि च नैरृते
avarge caiva lohantu kavarge 'ṅgāramagnitaḥ bhūmiṃ saṃsicya saṃsthāpyeti ga , gha , ṅa ca kuddālākhyamiti ga pūrvamīśāntamiti kha srāvayet iti kha nava cet praśnākṣarāṇi bhāṣante iti ga , gha ca pūrvādīnāṃ tata iti kha cavarge bhasma dakṣe syāṭ ṭavarge 'sthi ca nairṛte
Pour l’a‑varga (groupe des voyelles), la substance prescrite est le fer ; pour le ka‑varga, le charbon issu du feu. Après avoir aspergé le sol et établi correctement (le rite/diagramme), ainsi le disent certaines leçons. On l’appelle « kuddāla » (la bêche/la pelle). (Selon une autre lecture) il est dit « de l’Est jusqu’à Īśāna (nord‑est) », et l’on lit aussi « qu’on fasse couler/goutter ». Si les neuf syllabes interrogatives sont prononcées (comme question), selon quelques manuscrits. Alors, pour les directions à partir de l’Est, cette répartition s’applique. Pour le ca‑varga, la cendre est assignée au Sud ; et pour le ṭa‑varga, l’os est assigné au Sud‑Ouest (Nairṛta).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical frame of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Assigning elemental/material correspondences to letter-groups and directions for a yantra-prayoga used in questioning/diagnosis and site-rite setup (sprinkling, establishing, directional allotment).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Akṣara-varga to dravya (materials) and dik (directions) mapping","lookup_keywords":["a-varga loha","ka-varga aṅgāra","ca-varga bhasma","ṭa-varga asthi","dik-vinyāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a varga-wise assignment of substances (iron, charcoal, ash, bone, etc.) and ties them to directional placement after preparing and establishing the ground/diagram; variant readings note ‘kuddāla’ and ‘nine interrogative syllables’."}
Concept: Bandhu (correspondence) between sound-classes (varṇa), substances (dravya), and space (dik) enables applied rites and diagnostics.
Application: Use consistent correspondences in yantra layouts and procedural checklists to maintain repeatability across practitioners/recensions.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Yantra-Mantra-Prayoga (Directional & elemental correspondences)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prepared ground is sprinkled; a practitioner places iron, charcoal, ash, and bone at specific directional sectors of an akṣara-based diagram, referencing letter-groups and variant notes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritualist performing bhūmi-sprinkling with kalaśa, placing iron and charcoal in marked sectors, ash in the south, bone in the southwest, bold directional symbols, decorative frame.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on the yantra sectors and labeled varga letters, priestly figure holding a vessel for sprinkling, arranged offerings (loha, aṅgāra, bhasma, asthi) in neat piles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: a grid/mandala with directions, small captions for a-varga/ka-varga/ca-varga/ṭa-varga, practitioner demonstrating placement and ‘kuddāla’ spade nearby.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly-ritual scene with assistants holding trays of materials, a scribe noting variant readings, courtyard with compass rose, meticulous textures of iron, charcoal, ash, bone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कवर्गे ऽङ्गारम् = कवर्गे + अङ्गारम्; अङ्गारमग्नितः = अङ्गारम् + अग्नितः; संस्थाप्येति = संस्थाप्य + इति; पूर्वमीशान्तम् = पूर्वम् + ईशान्तम्; टवर्गे ऽस्थि = टवर्गे + अस्थि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.23-92.27 (akṣara-varga mapping; bhūmi preparation)
FAQs
It gives a technical mapping between phonetic groups (a/ka/ca/ṭa vargas) and prescribed ritual substances (iron, charcoal, ash, bone), along with directional assignments (south, southwest) used in Vastu/ritual installations.
It exemplifies the text’s catalog-like method: combining phonetics (varṇa-varga), ritual procedure (sprinkling/establishing), and Vastu directional science (dik-vibhāga) into a single operational rule-set.
By prescribing purified placement of substances by letter-groups and directions after sprinkling and installation, the rite aims at removing inauspiciousness (doṣa-śānti) and stabilizing sacred space, thereby supporting merit and ritual efficacy.