Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
यदाधारादिभेदेन प्रासादेष्वपि पञ्चधा परीक्षमथ मेदिन्याः कुर्यात्प्रासादकाम्यया
yadādhārādibhedena prāsādeṣvapi pañcadhā parīkṣamatha medinyāḥ kuryātprāsādakāmyayā
Ainsi, selon les distinctions commençant par la fondation et les autres bases structurelles, celui qui désire édifier un temple (prāsāda) doit aussi procéder à l’examen quintuple du sol.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purāṇa narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Directs builders to conduct a fivefold soil/site examination based on foundation-related criteria before constructing a prāsāda, preventing structural and ritual defects.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcadhā Medinī-parīkṣā for Prāsāda (Fivefold ground testing)","lookup_keywords":["medinī-parīkṣā","bhūmi-parīkṣā","prāsāda","ādhāra","foundation"],"quick_summary":"Before temple construction, the ground must be examined in five ways according to foundation and related bases; this ensures suitability, stability, and auspiciousness for a prāsāda."}
Concept: Right action begins with right examination: structural and sacred success depends on testing the supporting ground (ādhāra).
Application: Adopt standardized site-testing before laying foundations to avoid subsidence, inauspicious omens, and later need for corrective rites.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa / Temple Architecture and Site-Testing)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sthapati and assistants examine a temple site: digging test pits, checking soil layers, marking foundation lines, and recording fivefold criteria before construction begins.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, outdoor temple site with palm trees, sthapati holding measuring cord, workers digging small pits, ritual pots nearby, earthy palette, stylized landscape borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial site-testing with gold-highlighted measuring tools and kalasha, sthapati pointing to foundation grid, rich decorative frame, auspicious motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical diagram-like scene: foundation grid, test pits, labeled steps of fivefold examination, soft colors and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed construction camp with survey ropes, measuring rods, scribes noting observations, layered soil shown in cutaway pits, realistic flora and architecture sketches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यदाधारादिभेदेन = यत् + आधारादिभेदेन; प्रासादेष्वपि = प्रासादेषु + अपि; परीक्षमथ = परीक्षाम् + अथ; कुर्यात्प्रासादकाम्यया = कुर्यात् + प्रासादकाम्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.7 (land classification by color/odor as part of bhūmi-parīkṣā); Agni Purana Vāstu/Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa sections (site selection, measurements, foundations)
FAQs
It teaches Vāstu-śāstra procedure: before constructing a prāsāda, the builder should conduct a fivefold examination of the site/soil, aligned with structural categories beginning from the foundation (ādhāra).
By prescribing a technical construction protocol (bhū-parīkṣā and foundation-based classification) for temple building, it shows the Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual of architecture alongside its religious and mythic content.
Selecting and testing the ground properly is treated as a dhārmic prerequisite for sacred construction, helping ensure the prāsāda is established on a fit, auspicious site and thereby supports pure worship and merit-producing acts.