Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्
The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones
नकारारूढमूलेन कुम्भे ऽस्मिन् धारयेच्छिलां कुम्भानष्टौ सभद्रादीन् दिक्षु पूर्वादिषु क्रमात्
nakārārūḍhamūlena kumbhe 'smin dhārayecchilāṃ kumbhānaṣṭau sabhadrādīn dikṣu pūrvādiṣu kramāt
Au moyen du mantra-racine (root-mantra) porté par la syllabe « na », on doit placer (ou stabiliser) une pierre dans ce kumbha. Ensuite, qu’on dispose huit vases rituels, en commençant par celui nommé Sabhadrā, dans les directions à partir de l’Est, selon l’ordre.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Kumbha-sthāpana empowered by bīja/root-mantra (na-kāra) and directional placement of eight kumbhas for dikpāla-nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Na-kāra Root-mantra Kumbha: Stone Stabilization and Eight Directional Pots","lookup_keywords":["na-kāra","mūla-mantra","kumbha","dikpāla","aṣṭa-kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Empower the central kumbha with a na-kāra-based root-mantra and steady a stone within it; then place eight kumbhas in the eight directions starting from the East, beginning with Sabhadrā."}
Concept: Sound (bīja/varṇa) as a carrier of śakti; space is ritually organized through directional guardians.
Application: Use mantra-syllable anchoring and strict directional sequencing to ‘seal’ the ritual field.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-mantra-kalpa (Kumbha-sthapana and Dikpala-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central ritual pot with a stone being placed inside while a priest recites a na-kāra root-mantra; eight additional pots arranged around it in the eight directions, each marked with its deity-name starting with Sabhadrā in the East.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala floor, central kumbha with stone visible at mouth, priest chanting, eight kumbhas around with directional markers, earthy reds and ochres, stylized script-like labels for Sabhadrā etc.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central kumbha with gold embossing, eight surrounding kumbhas with gold halos, directional compass motif, ornate ritual cloth, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: compass rose, eight kumbhas precisely placed, priest holding japa-mālā, subtle depiction of mantra syllable ‘na’ near central pot, instructional composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard view with eight pots in perfect geometry, attendants placing vessels, fine calligraphy cartouches naming directions and Sabhadrā, delicate shading on metal pots."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुम्भे ऽस्मिन् = कुम्भे अस्मिन्; धारयेच्छिलां = धारयेत् शिलाम्; नकारारूढमूलेन = नकार-आरूढ-मूलेन
Related Themes: Agni Purana 94 (kumbha-sthāpana, dik-nyāsa, mantra-kalpa sections)
FAQs
It teaches kumbha-sthāpana with mantra-application: stabilizing the main ritual pot with a stone and placing eight auxiliary pots direction-wise (dik-krama) beginning from the East.
It preserves precise, implementable liturgical engineering—mantra usage, physical setup (stone support), and spatial (directional) arrangement—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual protocols alongside theology.
Correct mantra-linked placement and directional order are treated as essential for ritual purity, protection, and efficacy—ensuring the rite becomes ‘properly installed’ (sthāpita) and yields auspicious, unobstructed results.