Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्
The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones
सुभद्रादिषु नन्दाद्याश् चतस्रो ऽग्न्यादिकोणगाः अजिताद्याश् च पूर्वादिजयादिष्वथ विन्यसेत्
subhadrādiṣu nandādyāś catasro 'gnyādikoṇagāḥ ajitādyāś ca pūrvādijayādiṣvatha vinyaset
Parmi les divinités commençant par Subhadrā, on placera les quatre (déesses) commençant par Nandā dans les directions d’angle, à partir de l’angle d’Agni (sud-est). De même, les divinités commençant par Ajitā seront installées à l’Est et dans les autres directions, aux emplacements commençant par Jayā, selon l’ordre.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Mandala/nyāsa mapping: place Nandā-series goddesses in corner directions starting SE; place Ajitā-series in cardinal directions starting East in positions beginning with Jayā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mandala Placement: Nandā in Corners, Ajitā in Directions (Jayā Positions)","lookup_keywords":["Subhadrā","Nandā","Ajitā","Agni-koṇa","Jayā"],"quick_summary":"In the mandala, install four Nandā-type goddesses in the intercardinal corners beginning with the south-east; then install Ajitā and related deities in the cardinal directions beginning with the east, aligned to the Jayā-series positions."}
Concept: Orderly spatial invocation: deities are ‘made present’ by correct locus and sequence, producing protection and auspicious flow.
Application: When drawing/using a mandala, keep corner-deities distinct from directional deities; begin placements from prescribed starting corners/directions to maintain ritual coherence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala/Nyasa of Deities in Ritual Diagrams)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala on the ground with clearly marked eight directions and four corners; the four Nandā-type goddesses placed in the corners starting at the south-east; Ajitā-type deities placed on the east and other directions aligned with Jayā positions; priests placing flowers or yantra-tokens on each locus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, floor mandala with bold directional markers, corner goddesses as stylized feminine forms at SE/SW/NW/NE, Ajitā-series at E/S/W/N, priests placing flowers and lamps, warm temple interior palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, mandala rendered as ornate lotus diagram with gold, corner goddesses with gold halos starting at Agni corner, directional deities in cardinal petals, rich jewelry and embossed highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, crisp instructional mandala diagram with labels for Agni-koṇa and East, small deity icons placed at corners and directions, priest demonstrating placement sequence with hand gesture, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a courtyard mandala, attendants placing tokens at corners and directions, fine calligraphy naming Nandā/Ajitā/Jayā positions, delicate color washes and precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतस्रो ऽग्न्यादिकोणगाः = चतस्रः अग्नि-आदि-कोण-गाः; पूर्वादिजयादिष्वथ = पूर्व-आदि-जय-आदिषु अथ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 94 (mandala/nyāsa deity lists; dik/koṇa assignments; kumbha and śakti placements)
FAQs
It teaches mandala/nyāsa protocol: assigning specific deity-groups to specific spatial loci—Nandā-group to the corner-directions starting from the Agni (south-east) corner, and Ajitā-group to the cardinal directions starting from the east in Jayā-designated slots.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual-technology: not only theology, but precise procedural mapping of deities onto directional geometry used in temple worship, yantra/mandala layouts, and consecration rites.
Correct directional installation is treated as essential for ritual efficacy—aligning worship with cosmic order (dik/koṇa structure), which is understood to remove obstacles, stabilize the rite, and yield auspicious results.