Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 38
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
श्रीसूक्तं पावमानीश् च मैत्रकञ्च वृषाकपिं ऋग्वेदी सर्वदिग्भागे सर्वमेतत् समुच्चरेत्
śrīsūktaṃ pāvamānīś ca maitrakañca vṛṣākapiṃ ṛgvedī sarvadigbhāge sarvametat samuccaret
Le prêtre Ṛgvedin doit réciter le Śrī-sūkta, les hymnes Pāvamānī, l’hymne Maitraka et l’hymne Vṛṣākapi—l’ensemble de ces textes—en les proférant vers chaque quartier, dans toutes les directions.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual recitation)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Specifies protective/auspicious Ṛgvedic recitations (Śrī-sūkta, Pāvamānī, Maitraka, Vṛṣākapi) to be uttered in all directions for dik-bandhana and śānti.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Directional Recitation Set for Ṛgvedin: Śrī-sūkta and Allied Hymns","lookup_keywords":["Śrī-sūkta","Pāvamānī","Vṛṣākapi","Maitraka","dik-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"A Ṛgvedin performs quarter-wise protection by reciting a fixed set of hymns—Śrī-sūkta and specified Ṛgvedic hymns—toward every direction."}
Concept: Śabda (Vedic recitation) functions as protective boundary (dik-bandhana) and auspicious invocation.
Application: During śānti/protection phases, recite the specified sūktas facing each quarter to ‘seal’ the space before subsequent rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic Suktas, Dik-bandhana, and Protective Recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Ṛgvedin priest turns to each direction, chanting from memory, with a drawn directional diagram; the ritual arena is encircled by an implied sonic boundary as the hymns are recited.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest rotating to four/eight directions around a central maṇḍala, stylized sound-waves, palm-leaf manuscript nearby, calm protective aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold halo-like radiance expanding to all directions, priest holding a manuscript, directional guardians implied at corners, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of priest facing cardinal directions sequentially, clear quarter markers, subtle depiction of hymnal titles via symbols (lotus for Śrī)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with compass-like floor pattern, priest turning to recite, attendants holding water-pot and manuscript, refined architectural background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pāvamānīś ca = pāvamānīḥ + ca; maitrakañca = maitrakam + ca; sarvametat = sarvam + etat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (śānti, dik-bandhana, Vedic assignments)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific set of Ṛgvedic hymns (Śrī-sūkta, Pāvamānī, Maitraka, Vṛṣākapi) to be recited in relation to all directions, functioning as a structured mantra-samuccaya for ritual completeness and protection.
By cataloging named Vedic hymns and prescribing their practical deployment (direction-wise recitation), the text operates like a ritual handbook—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic functions alongside its coverage of polity, medicine, architecture, and arts.
Direction-wise recitation of purificatory and auspicious hymns is intended to sanctify the practitioner’s space, invoke prosperity and well-being, and remove ritual impurities—thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and inner/outer purification.