Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
त्रिकुटुं मणिबन्धं च सुविशुद्धं पदं तथा इति द्वादश मर्माणि वास्तोर्भित्त्यादिषु त्यजेत्
trikuṭuṃ maṇibandhaṃ ca suviśuddhaṃ padaṃ tathā iti dvādaśa marmāṇi vāstorbhittyādiṣu tyajet
« Trikuṭa », « Maṇibandha », ainsi que « Suviśuddha » et « Pada » — ceux-ci (et les autres), formant douze marmas (points vitaux), doivent être évités lors du tracé des murs et des autres éléments structurels d’un site de vāstu.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, per the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Avoiding structurally/ritually inauspicious ‘marma’ points while placing walls and building elements to prevent defects, instability, and vāstu-doṣa in construction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-marma avoidance: twelve vital points (Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["vastu-marma","bhitti-nyasa","trikuta","manibandha","vastu-dosha"],"quick_summary":"In site-planning and wall-laying, identify the twelve vāstu-marmas (including Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada) and avoid cutting/placing major structural members on them to preserve auspiciousness and integrity."}
Concept: Non-injury (ahiṃsā) extended to space: just as marmas are vital in the body, certain loci are vital in the built environment and should not be ‘wounded’.
Application: Before laying walls, mark the vāstu grid, locate marmas, and adjust wall lines/door posts to avoid those points.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra (Architecture, Site-planning, and Building Auspiciousness)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Architect-priest marking a vāstu grid on the ground, indicating twelve marma points; masons laying out walls while deliberately avoiding those marked loci (Trikuṭa, Maṇibandha, Suviśuddha, Pada).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, construction scene with priest drawing a grid using chalk, marma points shown as red nodes, workers holding measuring cords, temple-site ambiance, stylized figures and borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, vāstu grid rendered with gold lines, architect holding palm-leaf manual, marma nodes highlighted with embossed gold dots, rich architectural backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional diagram of a ground-plan with twelve marked marmas and wall-lines diverted around them, soft colors, precise geometry","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed building-site with surveyors and masons, ground-plan grid visible, marma points annotated in fine script, architectural elements in perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वास्तोर्भित्त्यादिषु = वास्तोः + भित्त्यादिषु (visarga → r before voiced consonant); भित्त्यादिषु = भित्ति + आदिषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (vāstu instructions connected to mandala and marma concepts)
FAQs
Vāstu-vidyā guidance: it instructs builders to avoid specific named “marma” (sensitive/vital) points when placing walls or related structural elements, to prevent vāstu-doṣa and harm.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual, extending beyond mythology into applied sciences like architecture (vāstu)—including technical lists and rules used in real construction.
Avoiding vāstu-marmas is treated as maintaining auspiciousness and purity of the dwelling/temple space, reducing inauspicious outcomes (doṣa) and supporting harmony for the occupants and rituals performed there.