Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration
दैर्घ्यं कुण्डार्धमानेन कुण्डकण्ठसमो ऽधरः पूर्वाग्नियाम्यकुण्डानां योनिः स्यादुत्तरानना
dairghyaṃ kuṇḍārdhamānena kuṇḍakaṇṭhasamo 'dharaḥ pūrvāgniyāmyakuṇḍānāṃ yoniḥ syāduttarānanā
Sa longueur doit être mesurée comme la moitié de la mesure du kuṇḍa (fosse à feu) principal ; la partie inférieure (arrière) doit être égale au « cou » de la fosse (la section resserrée). Pour les kuṇḍas de l’est, du sud‑est (Agni) et du sud (Yāmya), le yoni doit être tourné vers le nord.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Laying out a fire-pit (kunda) adjunct/extension with correct length and neck alignment, and fixing the yoni-facing direction for specific ritual pits (pūrva/agni/yāmya).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kunda-yoni māna and uttarānanā orientation for specific kundas","lookup_keywords":["kunda-nirmāṇa","kunda-kaṇṭha","yoni-mukha","uttarānanā","agni-yāmya"],"quick_summary":"Set the component length to half the main kunda measure, align the lower part to the kunda’s neck, and for east/Agni/south kundas make the yoni face north."}
Concept: Dik-niyama (directional rule) and pramāṇa (measure) as supports for effective yajña/śānti rites.
Application: When building kundas, treat orientation as functional—yoni direction governs flow/exit and ritual correctness for the intended rite.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya (Kunda-nirmana / Agni-karya: fire-altar and ritual pit specifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square/rectangular fire-pit plan is drawn on the ground; the artisan measures half-length segments and marks the neck region, then indicates the yoni opening pointing north for the specified kundas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual ground with kunda outlines, priest with measuring cord, compass-like markings, yoni opening clearly shown facing north, subdued sacred palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, stylized kunda diagram with gold-highlighted north arrow and yoni mouth, priestly figure blessing the layout, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout of kunda with labeled half-measure and neck equivalence, north-facing yoni arrow, fine lines and annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly workshop scene of Brahmin architect measuring a kunda with cord and rod, assistants holding a north-indicator, detailed ground plan."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुण्ड+अर्ध+मानेन→कुण्डार्धमानेन; समः+अधरः→समोऽधरः; स्यात्+उत्तरानना→स्यादुत्तरानना
Related Themes: Agni Purana 95 (kunda-nirmāṇa rules and directional mouths); Agni Purana 95.27 (mouth directions and unit definitions)
FAQs
It gives precise kunda-design rules: proportional measurement (length as half-measure) and the required directional orientation (yoni facing north) for specific directional fire-pits used in homa.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-architecture (Vastu) standards—geometry, proportions, and directional rules—showing the text’s practical coverage of altar engineering used in Vedic-Puranic rites.
Correct proportion and orientation are treated as necessary for an efficacious homa: they align the rite with sacred directions, supporting purity (śuddhi) and the intended ritual fruit (phala) without obstacle.