Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 6
The Root-Mantra of Tvaritā
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra
नव कोष्ठा भवन्त्येवं मध्यदेशे तथा इमान् प्रदक्षिणेन संस्थाप्य प्रस्तावं भेदयेत्ततः
nava koṣṭhā bhavantyevaṃ madhyadeśe tathā imān pradakṣiṇena saṃsthāpya prastāvaṃ bhedayettataḥ
इस प्रकार मध्यदेश में नौ कोष्ठ (खण्ड) होते हैं। उन्हें दक्षिणावर्त क्रम से स्थापित करके, तत्पश्चात् प्रवेश-मार्ग (प्रस्ताव) का विभाजन/चिह्नांकन करे।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Planning a vāstu-maṇḍala with a defined central 3×3 (nine-cell) zoning and determining the clockwise placement and the marked entry/passage line for a building/temple plan.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Navakoṣṭha (3×3) Madhyadeśa Vinyāsa and Prastāva-bheda (Entrance Marking)","lookup_keywords":["navakoṣṭha","madhyadeśa","pradakṣiṇa-vinyāsa","prastāva","maṇḍala-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Lay out the central nine compartments of the plan and arrange their order clockwise; then mark/divide the prastāva—i.e., the entrance/passage alignment—after the zoning is fixed."}
Concept: Cosmic order mirrored in spatial order (maṇḍala as a disciplined grid).
Application: Use consistent orientation (pradakṣiṇa/clockwise) and a fixed center to avoid functional and ritual defects in construction.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Maṇḍala-vidhi (Architectural layout and spatial planning)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An architect-priest draws a square vāstu-maṇḍala, highlighting the central 3×3 nine compartments, with arrows indicating clockwise sequencing and a marked entrance/passage line.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, warm earthy palette, a sthapati with stylus drawing a vāstu-maṇḍala on a floor, central 3×3 grid emphasized, clockwise arrows, minimal background, traditional ornament borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style, gold-leaf accents on the maṇḍala lines, sthapati seated with palm-leaf manual, central nine squares glowing, entrance line marked, rich reds and greens, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework of a precise architectural diagram, labeled nine compartments, clockwise order indicated, calm instructional scene with tools (string, measuring rod).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down plan view with a draughtsman and assistants, delicate geometry, annotated grid, entrance axis drawn, architectural instruments rendered in detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhavanty evaṃ → bhavanti evaṃ; bhedayet tataḥ → bhedayet tataḥ (no change); words already mostly separated in IAST.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu/maṇḍala-vidhi sections on vāstu-puruṣa, padas, and praveśa-dvāra determination
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu/maṇḍala rule: define nine central compartments (koṣṭhas), arrange them clockwise (pradakṣiṇā-krama), and then mark out the entrance/passage (prastāva).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical manuals—here, architectural planning and sacred spatial geometry—alongside its coverage of ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Clockwise arrangement (pradakṣiṇa) encodes auspicious orientation and ritual correctness, believed to harmonize the built space with sacred order and thereby support purity and merit in worship.