Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 42
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
आचार्यश्चाग्निमुत्पाद्य प्रतिकुण्डं प्रदापयेत् वह्नेः पूर्वादिकान् भागान् पूर्वकुण्डादितः क्रमात्
ācāryaścāgnimutpādya pratikuṇḍaṃ pradāpayet vahneḥ pūrvādikān bhāgān pūrvakuṇḍāditaḥ kramāt
Après avoir allumé (fait naître) le feu sacré, l’ācārya officiant doit le faire flamboyer aussi dans le foyer auxiliaire/contre-fosse ; puis il doit répartir les parts du feu selon les directions, en commençant par l’est, dans l’ordre requis, à partir du foyer oriental et en poursuivant successivement.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure, traditionally to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Operational homa procedure: generating/kindling fire, transferring/establishing it in an auxiliary (pratikunda) pit, and assigning directional portions of the fire across pits in a fixed sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agni-utpādana and Pratikunda Ignition with Directional Portions","lookup_keywords":["agni-utpādana","pratikunda","kunda-krama","dik-bhāga","homa-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"After producing the sacred fire, the ācārya ignites the auxiliary pit and distributes the fire’s directional portions beginning from the east, proceeding in ordered sequence across the designated kuṇḍas."}
Concept: Ritual technology: correct generation, placement, and segmentation of agni as a functional sacred instrument.
Application: Ensures homa is performed with proper fire continuity and directional integrity, preventing procedural lapses.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-hotra / Homa-vidhi; Kunda-nirmana and fire-installation procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ācārya kindles the main fire, then carries/extends it to an auxiliary pit; multiple kuṇḍas arranged with clear east-first directional order; flames divided conceptually into quarters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yajña-maṇḍapa with multiple kuṇḍas, ācārya kindling fire and lighting the pratikunda, stylized flames, clear east direction marker, ritual implements, bold outlines and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, glowing fire-pits with gold highlights, ācārya transferring flame, ornate ladles and vessels, rich reds/oranges, embossed gold for flames and lamps, ceremonial grandeur","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction of kuṇḍa arrangement, east-first sequence shown by subtle cues, ācārya performing agni-utpādana, fine detailing of tools and gestures","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard with geometric layout of fire-pits, officiant igniting auxiliary pit, delicate flame rendering, attendants holding ghee and ladles, architectural precision"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आचार्यश्चाग्निमुत्पाद्य = आचार्यः + च + अग्निम् + उत्पाद्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (Agnihotra/Homa-vidhi; kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa and agni-pratiṣṭhā sequence)
FAQs
It teaches the operational step of kindling the main fire and then igniting the auxiliary (pratikuṇḍa) fire-pit, followed by assigning the fire’s directional portions starting from the eastern kunda in a fixed sequence.
Beyond theology, it preserves procedural ritual-technology: multi-kunda layout, auxiliary fire management, and directional sequencing—practical liturgical engineering that complements the Purana’s wide-ranging manual-like coverage.
Correctly sequencing the directional portions of Agni is treated as maintaining ṛta (ritual order); it supports purity, prevents procedural faults (doṣa), and is traditionally held to secure the intended merit (puṇya) of the homa.