Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 59
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
गम्भीरा नवहस्तके इति ज सोत्तरेषु इति ज यवस्य नवभक्तस्येत्यादिः पादवृद्धेषु सर्वत इत्य् अन्तः पाठो ङ पुस्तके नास्ति द्व्यंशवृंहितेति ख , घ , छ च त्र्यंशवृंहितेति ङ द्व्यंशवृद्धित इति ज लक्ष्मक्षेत्रेष्टधाभक्ते मूर्ध्निभागद्वये शुभे षड्भागपरिवर्तनमुक्त्वा भागद्वयन्त्वधः
gambhīrā navahastake iti ja sottareṣu iti ja yavasya navabhaktasyetyādiḥ pādavṛddheṣu sarvata ity antaḥ pāṭho ṅa pustake nāsti dvyaṃśavṛṃhiteti kha , gha , cha ca tryaṃśavṛṃhiteti ṅa dvyaṃśavṛddhita iti ja lakṣmakṣetreṣṭadhābhakte mūrdhnibhāgadvaye śubhe ṣaḍbhāgaparivartanamuktvā bhāgadvayantvadhaḥ
La leçon «Profond — pour celui de neuf hastas» se trouve dans le manuscrit Ja; et «dans la partie du nord» se lit aussi selon Ja. On note l’expression commençant par : «du yava, divisé en neuf parts…». La leçon interne «par accroissements d’un quart, de tous côtés» est absente du manuscrit Ṅa. Variantes : Kha, Gha et Cha lisent «augmenté de deux parts»; Ṅa lit «augmenté de trois parts»; Ja lit «augmenté de deux parts». Pour un terrain propice (lakṣma-kṣetra) divisé en huit parts, les deux parts à la «tête» sont favorables; après avoir indiqué l’échange de six parts, les deux parts doivent être placées en bas.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Kṣetra-lakṣaṇa and plot division for auspicious layouts: dividing land into eight parts, identifying auspicious head portions, and prescribing rearrangement (parivartana) of six parts with two placed below; also preserves manuscript variant readings for technical terms.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Lakṣma-kṣetra: Eightfold Plot Division and Portion Interchange (with Variant Readings)","lookup_keywords":["kṣetra-lakṣaṇa","lakṣma-kṣetra","aṣṭadhā-bhāga","mūrdhni-bhāga","parivartana"],"quick_summary":"An auspicious plot is divided into eight parts: the two ‘head’ portions are शुभ; after a prescribed interchange of six portions, the remaining two are placed below—guiding orientation and functional zoning, while noting textual variants affecting exact measures."}
Concept: Ordered space (kṣetra) supports auspicious living/ritual; correct orientation and division are treated as dhārmic safeguards against doṣa.
Application: In planning a site, mark eight divisions, prioritize the ‘head’ sectors as auspicious, and apply the prescribed rearrangement scheme before construction/installation.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Kṣetra-lakṣaṇa (land-measurement and plot division for auspicious layouts)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vāstu expert draws an eight-part grid on a plot, marking the ‘head’ (mūrdhni) two auspicious sections, then demonstrates the interchange of six sections and placement of two below; marginal notes show variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: vāstu-ācārya with stylus drawing an eightfold plot diagram on the ground, assistants holding palm-leaf manuscripts with variant notes, directional markers (uttara) shown, warm temple-school ambiance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate diagrammatic land-grid with gold borders, the two head portions highlighted as auspicious, priestly figure indicating rearrangement, rich decorative motifs around the plan.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional vāstu diagram—eight divisions, arrows showing parivartana of six parts, two parts placed below; side panel listing manuscript variants (dvyaṃśa/tryaṃśa).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: surveyor-scholar scene with a plotted grid on parchment, compass-like directional cues, scribes noting textual variants, refined architectural background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सottareṣu → स + उत्तरेषु; नवभक्तस्येत्यादिः → नवभक्तस्य + इति + आदिः; सर्वत इत्य् अन्तः → सर्वतः + इति + अन्तः; भागद्वयन्त्वधः → भागद्वयम् + तु + अधः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (kṣetra-lakṣaṇa and pramāṇa material around liṅga/installation)
FAQs
It preserves a Vāstu-śāstra rule-set on plot measurement and fractional division (hasta/yava-based), specifying which portions of an eight-part plot are auspicious and how portions may be interchanged for a favorable layout.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa records practical technical sciences—here, land measurement, proportional division, and layout optimization—showing its role as a compendium of applied knowledge (vāstu, planning, and auspicious configuration).
By arranging the plot so that auspicious portions occupy the proper ‘head’ and ‘lower’ positions, the practitioner aligns construction with śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious markers), traditionally believed to support prosperity, stability, and reduced inauspicious results for occupants and patrons.