Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
चतुःषष्टिपदं कृत्वा मध्ये ब्रह्मा चतुष्पदः प्राक् तेषां वै गृहस्वामी कथितस्तु तथार्यमा
catuḥṣaṣṭipadaṃ kṛtvā madhye brahmā catuṣpadaḥ prāk teṣāṃ vai gṛhasvāmī kathitastu tathāryamā
ચોસઠ પદનું (વાસ્તુ) મંડળ રચીને, મધ્યમાં બ્રહ્માને ચાર પદોના અધિષ્ઠાતા તરીકે સ્થાપિત કરવો. અને તેના પૂર્વ ભાગમાં ગૃહસ્વામી તરીકે આર્યમા કહેવાયો છે.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Designing the vāstu-maṇḍala (64-pada grid) and placing deities correctly—central Brahmā zone and eastern placement of Gṛhasvāmin (Aryaman)—for house/temple planning and ritual nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-maṇḍala (64-pada): Brahmā in the center; Aryaman as Gṛhasvāmin in the east","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-maṇḍala","catuḥṣaṣṭi-pada","Brahmā-sthāna","Gṛhasvāmin","Aryaman"],"quick_summary":"In a 64-square vāstu grid, Brahmā occupies the central four squares (Brahmasthāna). Immediately to the east, the house-lord deity is identified as Aryaman, guiding orientation and room placement."}
Concept: Spatial order mirrors cosmic order: deities are mapped onto space to harmonize human dwelling with ṛta/dharma.
Application: While planning, reserve the central Brahmasthāna appropriately and align key functions/entrances with the prescribed eastern deity-pada (Aryaman as Gṛhasvāmin).
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Maṇḍala-vinyāsa and Devatā-pada placements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A drawn 8x8 vāstu grid on the ground; the central 2x2 marked as Brahmā; the eastern adjacent squares labeled Aryaman/Gṛhasvāmin; architects and priests indicating placements with measuring cords.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priests/architects around a large 64-pada grid drawn with white lines; central Brahmā area highlighted; east side marked Aryaman; traditional pigments, strong outlines, ritual-meets-architecture mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: symmetrical 8x8 grid rendered like a sacred diagram with gold accents on Brahmasthāna; Agni or a sthapati instructing; ornate border, jewel tones, embossed gold for the central zone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical clarity—clean 8x8 plan with central 2x2 emphasized; east labeled Aryaman; figures with measuring rope and stylus; fine linework and subdued palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed planning scene with draughtsmanship; grid on parchment and on ground; central squares tinted; east side annotated; refined architectural instruments and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catuḥṣaṣṭipadaṃ → catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi-padam; catuṣpadaḥ → catuṣ-padaḥ; kathitastu → kathitaḥ tu; tathāryamā → tathā aryamā.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: subsequent vāstu verses listing other pada-devatās and directional allocations (same chapter continuation); Agni Purāṇa: prāsāda/śilpa sections where maṇḍala underlies temple layout
FAQs
It gives a vāstu-śāstra rule for laying out the 64-pada vāstu-maṇḍala: Brahmā occupies the central 2×2 padas, and Aryaman is identified as the Gṛhasvāmin on the eastern side—guiding correct deity-placement for construction and consecration.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural science: the measurable grid (pada-maṇḍala) and its devatā assignments used in house/temple planning—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied disciplines like vāstu, ritual procedure, and sacred geometry.
Correct placement of deities on the vāstu-maṇḍala is treated as harmonizing the dwelling with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting auspiciousness, stability, and ritual purity for the occupants and the consecrated space.