Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
जानुनी कूर्परौ शक्थि दिशि वातहुताशयोः पैत्र्यां पादपुटे रौद्र्यां शिरो ऽस्य हृदये ऽञ्जलिः
jānunī kūrparau śakthi diśi vātahutāśayoḥ paitryāṃ pādapuṭe raudryāṃ śiro 'sya hṛdaye 'ñjaliḥ
Selon le nyāsa, les genoux, les coudes et les cuisses sont assignés aux directions de Vāyu et d’Agni ; dans la direction des Ancêtres (le sud) on place les plantes des pieds ; dans la direction de Rudra (le nord) on place la tête ; et dans le cœur, les paumes jointes en añjali.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing kara/anga-nyasa and dik-nyasa in puja to sacralize the body as a mandala, assigning limbs to directional deities for protection and correct ritual orientation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-nyasa of limbs (Vayu–Agni, Pitrya, Raudra) and Anjali in the heart","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","dik-devata","anga-nyasa","pitrya-dik","raudra-dik"],"quick_summary":"Map specific limbs to specific directions during nyasa: knees/elbows/thighs to Vayu–Agni quarters, soles to the southern ancestral quarter, head to the northern Rudra quarter, and anjali to the heart to seal the inner worship."}
Concept: Deha as devatā-mandala: the body is treated as a sacred field where directions and deities are installed to align microcosm with macrocosm.
Application: Use dik-nyasa before japa/puja to stabilize attention, invoke protection, and maintain correct ritual orientation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Nyasa and Deity-installation on the body; directional placements)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka performing nyāsa: touching knees, elbows, thighs, soles, head, then placing joined palms at the heart; subtle directional deities indicated around the body (south as Pitṛ, north as Rudra).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, sādhaka seated in padmāsana, hands touching limbs in nyāsa sequence, dik-devatās as stylized guardians in the four quarters, ornate floral borders, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sādhaka with gold-leaf halo, anjali at heart, directional emblems for Pitṛ (south) and Rudra (north), rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing, temple interior setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework, instructional composition showing limb-to-direction labels, sādhaka in simple attire, subtle pastel background, emphasis on clarity of nyāsa points","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior with carpet and low altar, sādhaka performing nyāsa gestures, compass-like directional markers, fine brushwork, restrained palette, marginal annotations"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिरो 'स्य = शिरः + अस्य; हृदये 'ञ्जलिः = हृदये + अञ्जलिः. ‘दिशि’ is understood with locatives ‘पैत्र्याम्/रौद्र्याम्’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (Puja-vidhi: nyasa and dik-devata placements)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa mapping: specific body parts (knees, elbows, thighs, feet-soles, head, and the añjali in the heart) are ritually assigned to specific directional deities/quarters (Vāyu–Agni, Pitṛ, and Rudra) as part of worship and internal installation.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical ritual technology—directional theology, bodily correspondences, and procedural worship details (nyāsa)—showing it functions as a handbook of applied liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
By aligning the body with sacred directions and deities through nyāsa, the practitioner sacralizes the body as a ritual field, supports concentration and purity in worship, and is traditionally held to remove obstacles and generate merit through correct, reverent installation.