Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 31
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
आपवत्सचतुष्टये इति ख तद्वत्सायै च तत्तले इति घ , ज च वाराह्यै इति ङ , छ च विपचे इति ख , छ च ततो मांसौदनमिति ख घ छ च कुम्भकायेति छ पिलिपिच्छायेति ङ लिपिपिञ्जायेति छ गृहे च नगरादौ च एकाशीतिपदैर् यजेत् त्रिपदा रज्जवः कार्याः षट्पदाश् च विकोणके
āpavatsacatuṣṭaye iti kha tadvatsāyai ca tattale iti gha , ja ca vārāhyai iti ṅa , cha ca vipace iti kha , cha ca tato māṃsaudanamiti kha gha cha ca kumbhakāyeti cha pilipicchāyeti ṅa lipipiñjāyeti cha gṛhe ca nagarādau ca ekāśītipadair yajet tripadā rajjavaḥ kāryāḥ ṣaṭpadāś ca vikoṇake
« Āpavatsa-catuṣṭaye » : (placer/réciter) à la position syllabique « kha » ; « Tad-vatsāyai ca tattale » : à « gha » (et aussi à « ja ») ; « Vārāhyai » : à « ṅa » (et aussi à « cha ») ; « Vipace » : à « kha » (et aussi à « cha »). Ensuite, « Māṃsa-odana » : à « kha », « gha » et « cha » ; « Kumbhakāya » : à « cha » ; « Pilipicchāya » : à « ṅa » ; « Lipipiñjāya » : à « cha ». Dans une maison, dans une ville et ailleurs, on accomplira le culte selon une disposition de quatre-vingt-un mots/pas. Les cordes (rajju) seront faites en trois mesures, et sur la diagonale (vikoṇa) en six mesures.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue framework, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa/placement of mantras on specific syllable-positions within a vāstu/maṇḍala scheme; practical for constructing protective ritual grids in houses, towns, and sites using an 81-pada arrangement and measured cords.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-nyāsa on varṇa-sthāna and 81-pada worship; rajju-māna (3-pada, 6-pada vikoṇa)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa kha gha ṅa cha","ekāśīti-pada maṇḍala","rajju tripadā ṣaṭpadā","vāstu mantra placement"],"quick_summary":"Assign specific mantras to designated syllable/letter positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and perform worship on an 81-pada layout; prepare cords in three measures, and for diagonals use six measures."}
Concept: Mantra is operationalized through nyāsa and spatial order; correct placement and measure are themselves efficacy-conditions.
Application: When laying out a protective vāstu-maṇḍala, follow the specified mantra placements and cord-measures to avoid ritual/architectural faults.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-mantra Nyasa (Mantra applications in worship and ritual construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Dwelling/City/Settlement space
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram shows an 81-pada grid; a priest marks syllable-positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and inscribes/recites mantras (including Vārāhī). Measuring cords indicate three-unit lengths and six-unit diagonals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large geometric 9x9 grid (81 squares) on floor, priest pointing to squares labeled with Sanskrit syllables, stylized cords and knots, Vārāhī emblem in one sector, earthy reds/ochres and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted grid lines and ritual implements, priest with palm-leaf manuscript, squares inscribed with syllables, ornate kalaśa and lamps, Vārāhī symbol with halo, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic scene: 9x9 maṇḍala, labels kha/gha/ja/ṅa/cha, cords measured in 3 and 6 units shown with tick marks, calm indoor setting, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect-priest collaboration: one holds measuring cord, another writes syllables on a drawn grid, detailed textiles and instruments, subtle shading, precise geometry emphasized."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्तले = तत्-तले; मांसौदनम् = मांस-ओदनम्; मांसौदनमिति = मांस-ओदनम् + इति; कुम्भकायेति = कुम्भकाय + इति; पिलिपिच्छायेति = पिलिपिच्छायै + इति; लिपिपिञ्जायेति = लिपिपिञ्जाय + इति; एकाशीतिपदैर् = एकाशीति-पदैः + (र्-आदेशः). संकेताक्षराणि (ख, घ, ज, ङ, छ) पाठ-यन्त्र/विन्यास-चिह्नरूपेण अव्ययानि गृहीतानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (nyāsa, vāstu-maṇḍala, dik-devatā appeasement)
FAQs
It gives a coded nyāsa-style mapping of specific mantra-names/epithets to letter-positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and adds practical instructions for an 81-pada worship arrangement, including rope/cord measurements (3-unit cords, and 6-unit diagonals).
It combines mantra-technology (coded syllabic placement), goddess-invocation (Vārāhī), and ritual geometry/measurement (pada counts and diagonal cord lengths), illustrating how the Agni Purana integrates liturgy, tantra, and technical layout rules in a single chapter.
By performing worship with correct mantra placement and prescribed measurements, the rite is considered properly ‘formed’ (saṃskṛta) and thus more efficacious—supporting purification, protection, and the intended siddhi/merit associated with the invoked deities and offerings.