Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 80
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
मायापदेशशक्त्यन्तन्तुर्याशाष्टांशवर्तुलं तत्रात्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यं शिवं सृष्टिक्रमण तु
māyāpadeśaśaktyantanturyāśāṣṭāṃśavartulaṃ tatrātmatattvavidyākhyaṃ śivaṃ sṛṣṭikramaṇa tu
À l’aboutissement de la puissance appelée Māyā se trouve le « cercle » constitué par la seizième part de Turīyā ; là, Śiva—connu comme la connaissance du principe du Soi (ātma-tattva-vidyā)—doit être compris selon l’ordre de la création (sṛṣṭi-krama).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Subtle-body contemplation for mapping the ascent from Māyā to Turīyā and recognizing Śiva as the ātma-tattva in sṛṣṭi-krama during meditation/nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Māyā-śakti-anta and Turīyā-aṃśa-vartula (Ātma-tattva-vidyā as Śiva)","lookup_keywords":["māyā-śakti","turīyā","aṃśa-vartula","ātma-tattva-vidyā","sṛṣṭi-krama"],"quick_summary":"At the limit of Māyā’s operative power is a subtle ‘circle’ identified with a fractional aspect of Turīyā; there Śiva is understood as the very knowledge of the Self-principle, to be contemplated in the emanational order."}
Concept: Śiva as ātma-tattva-vidyā beyond Māyā, approached through Turīyā-oriented subtle mapping in sṛṣṭi-krama.
Application: Use as a meditative ‘locus’ (ālambana) in internal worship: trace tattvas up to Māyā’s limit, then rest awareness in Turīyā-aspect as Śiva.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Tantra / Atma-tattva-vidya (Cosmology and subtle-body doctrine)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An abstract cosmological diagram: a mandala-like circle at the boundary of Māyā, with a finer inner ring marked as the sixteenth part of Turīyā; within it a radiant Śiva-principle labeled ātma-tattva-vidyā, with emanational arrows indicating sṛṣṭi-krama.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, concentric mandala at Māyā’s boundary, inner turīyā ring, serene luminous Śiva-tattva at center, subtle inscriptions, sacred geometry emphasis","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlighting the central Śiva-tattva, embossed concentric circles for Māyā and Turīyā, rich reds and greens, ornamental border, iconographic abstraction with sacred symbols","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional cosmology chart with labeled rings (Māyā, Turīyā-aṃśa), emanation sequence arrows, central Śiva as ātma-vidyā","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with precise geometry and calligraphic labels, cosmological mandala diagram on a folio page, delicate pigments, central radiance for Śiva-principle, marginal notes indicating sṛṣṭi-krama"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मायापदेशशक्त्यन्तन्तुर्याशाष्टांशवर्तुलम् → माया + अपदेश + शक्ति + अन्त + तुर्या + अष्टांश + वर्तुलम्; तत्रात्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यम् → तत्र + आत्मतत्त्वविद्याख्यम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (Śaiva-tantra: tattva/nyāsa/mantra sections)
FAQs
It conveys a Shaiva-tantric mapping of consciousness and cosmology: Śiva as ātma-tattva-vidyā is located beyond Māyā, described through the Turīyā-based ‘sixteenth-part circle’ (a technical marker for transcendence beyond ordinary states).
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana also preserves compact tantric-metaphysical schemata—linking Māyā, Śakti, states of consciousness (Turīyā), and emanational order—showing its wide coverage of philosophy and yogic cosmology.
By identifying Śiva beyond Māyā and relating creation to a graded inner principle (ātma-tattva), the verse points to liberation-through-knowledge: recognizing the Self/Śiva as prior to cosmic limitation is presented as the key spiritual insight.