Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 49
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अयुजो ऽश्वयुजश् चैव तुर्यावप्यष्टमावपि तस्योपपादप्राक्प्रत्यगरेषु च यथाक्रमं
ayujo 'śvayujaś caiva turyāvapyaṣṭamāvapi tasyopapādaprākpratyagareṣu ca yathākramaṃ
इसी प्रकार ‘अयुज’ (विषम-समूह), ‘अश्वयुजा’, चौथा तथा आठवाँ—इनको क्रमशः उसके उपपादों में, अर्थात् पाद-स्थान, पूर्व-भाग और पश्चिम-भाग में स्थापित करे।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Nakṣatra classification/placement into subsidiary quarters (upapāda) with directional assignment (feet/east/west), used for muhurta selection, ritual layouts, and astrological mapping of lunar mansions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nakṣatra grouping and directional placement: ayuja set with Aśvayujā, 4th and 8th in upapāda quarters","lookup_keywords":["nakṣatra classification","ayuja nakṣatra","Aśvayujā","upapāda placement","east west feet"],"quick_summary":"Certain nakṣatra sets (including the odd group and Aśvayujā, with specified 4th and 8th members) are assigned क्रमशः to subsidiary quarters—feet, east, and west—supporting consistent astrological/ritual mapping."}
Concept: Cosmic order expressed through directional partitioning of lunar mansions.
Application: Apply the stated directional mapping when constructing nakṣatra-maṇḍalas, choosing muhurta, or aligning ritual stations with lunar mansion indications.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha (Nakshatra-vidya / Lunar mansion classification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A nakṣatra chart divided into subsidiary quarters, with labels for ‘feet’, ‘east’, and ‘west’; specific nakṣatra names are placed in sequence, emphasizing odd-group arrangement and Aśvayujā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style celestial chart on a temple wall, nakṣatra symbols arranged with directional labels, deep indigo background, priest-astrologer indicating placements with a stylus","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a jyotiṣa diagram: circular star-map with gold highlights, directional markers, nakṣatra names in Devanagari, ornate border and auspicious motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional star-chart, clean quadrant divisions labeled pāda/east/west, neat placement of nakṣatra names, scholar seated with palm-leaf manuscript","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of an astronomer with an illustrated nakṣatra map, fine calligraphy, instruments nearby, quadrant-based placement shown clearly"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अयुजोऽश्वयुजः = अयुजः + अश्वयुजः (ः + अ → ’); तुर्यावपि = तुर्यौ + अपि; अष्टमावपि = अष्टमौ + अपि; तस्योपपाद... = तस्य + उपपाद... .
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (jyotiṣa/nakṣatra subsection around 342.49)
FAQs
It gives a technical rule for grouping/placing specific nakṣatra-sets (odd, Aśvayujā, fourth, eighth) into designated diagrammatic divisions aligned with feet/quarters and the east–west directions.
It illustrates the Purana’s catalog-style transmission of precise Jyotiṣa/ritual-astronomy rules—enumerations, positional schemes, and directional placements—alongside its many other sciences.
Correct nakṣatra grouping and directional placement is treated as essential for ritual accuracy; performing rites with proper astronomical alignment is held to enhance efficacy and reduce ritual fault (doṣa).