Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 37
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
ईशानाद्या नवपदाः स्कन्दाद्याः शक्तिकाः स्मृताः चरक्याद्यास्तद्वदेव रज्जुवंशादि पूर्ववत्
īśānādyā navapadāḥ skandādyāḥ śaktikāḥ smṛtāḥ carakyādyāstadvadeva rajjuvaṃśādi pūrvavat
On dit que les neuf «padas» commencent par Īśāna ; et l’on se souvient que les «śaktikā» commencent par Skanda. De même, les séries commençant par Carakī doivent être comprises de la même manière ; et les catégories telles que «rajju» et «vaṃśa» sont à prendre comme expliqué précédemment.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Classifying padas for nyāsa/maṇḍala work: nine-pada set beginning with Īśāna; śaktikā set beginning with Skanda; and applying analogous Carakī-based sets with prior measurement classifications (rajju, vaṃśa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pada-Classifications: Īśāna Navapada and Skanda Śaktikā Sets","lookup_keywords":["Īśāna navapada","śaktikā Skanda","Carakī padas","rajju","vaṃśa"],"quick_summary":"Defines how to name and group padas for ritual/architectural mandala usage: the nine-pada series starts from Īśāna, and the śaktikā series from Skanda. Other named sets (Carakī etc.) and measurement classes follow earlier rules."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct classification and sequencing (krama) of padas and śakti-loci.
Application: When drawing/using mandalas for nyāsa, begin the ninefold mapping from Īśāna and the śaktikā mapping from Skanda; keep measurement/labeling consistent with earlier standards.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Mantra-nyasa and Shakti-pada classifications (Tantric-Ritual Vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala diagram with the northeast marked Īśāna as the starting point for nine padas; another ring/cluster labeled śaktikā beginning with Skanda; tools (cord and bamboo rod) shown to indicate continuity with measurement rules.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: compass-like mandala with NE highlighted; Īśāna emblem at start; Skanda emblem initiating śaktikā cluster; ritualist pointing with stylus; bold outlines and temple aesthetic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted mandala with directional markers; Īśāna in NE corner, Skanda in a prominent petal; rich ornamentation, sacred geometry emphasized.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional mandala chart with clear labels ‘Īśāna—navapada’ and ‘Skanda—śaktikā’; neat geometry, subtle gold, teacher demonstrating sequence.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholar with diagram scroll showing directional grid; NE corner annotated Īśāna; Skanda heading a list of śaktikās; fine calligraphy and measured instruments depicted."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: īśānādyā → īśāna-ādyāḥ; skandādyāḥ unchanged as skanda-ādyāḥ; carakyāstadvadeva → carakya-ādyāḥ tadvat eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (earlier explanations of rajju/vaṃśa and Carakī sets); Agni Purana ritual chapters on nyāsa and devatā-krama
FAQs
It gives a technical taxonomy used in ritual manuals: how to enumerate ‘nine padas’ (starting with Īśāna) and ‘śaktikā’ groupings (starting with Skanda), and indicates that additional named series (Carakī-, rajju-, vaṃśa-, etc.) follow the same previously stated enumeration rules.
Rather than narrative, it preserves a compact index-like rule for multiple ritual lists and classifications—showing the Agni Purana’s handbook style where mantra-nyāsa and deity-series are codified through systematic headings (‘ādi…pūrvavat’).
Correct enumeration and placement of deity-padas and śaktis supports accurate mantra-nyāsa and worship procedure; in Purāṇic ritual logic, precision in such classifications is tied to efficacy (siddhi) and the avoidance of ritual error (doṣa).