Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 42 — प्रासादलक्षणकथनं
Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa-kathana: Characteristics of the Temple/Prāsāda
शुकान् प्राग्द्वारविन्यासे पादान्तःस्थान् यजेत् सुरान् तथा प्राकारविन्यासे यजेद् द्वात्रिंशदन्तगान्
śukān prāgdvāravinyāse pādāntaḥsthān yajet surān tathā prākāravinyāse yajed dvātriṃśadantagān
ಪೂರ್ವದ್ವಾರ ವಿನ್ಯಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಶುಕರನ್ನು ಹಾಗೂ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳ ಪಾದಾಂತಸ್ಥ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಪ್ರಾಕಾರ ವಿನ್ಯಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮೂವತ್ತೆರಡು ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing devatā-nyāsa and worship during gateway and prākāra layout: invoking specific guardian deities (Śukas, dik-anta devatās, and 32 inner deities) to ritually secure the temple perimeter.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvāra–Prākāra Devatā-vinyāsa: Śuka and 32 inner deities worship","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-vinyāsa","prākāra-vinyāsa","śuka","dvātriṃśat devatāḥ","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"At the eastern gate placement, worship the Śukas and the deities at the quarter-ends; for the enclosing wall placement, worship the thirty-two deities stationed on the inner side to consecrate and protect the boundary."}
Concept: Kṣetra-rakṣā through devatā-nyāsa: space is sacralized by assigning divine presences to thresholds and perimeters.
Application: Before/while constructing or consecrating gates and walls, perform prescribed worship to align the site with protective cosmology and reduce ritual faults (doṣa) in layout.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala, Dvara, Prakara Devata-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-architecture element
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual layout at an eastern gateway: priests placing offerings and marking deity positions; parrots/Śuka symbols near the gate; along the inner side of the enclosure wall, 32 deity points indicated with lamps and flowers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest performing nyāsa at the eastern gopura, stylized green parrots as Śuka symbols, lamps and flower offerings, inner prākāra marked with 32 glowing points, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented eastern gateway with gold work, priests offering flowers and incense, Śuka motifs near the threshold, 32 deity stations shown as gold medallions along the inner wall","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction: plan of gateway and enclosure with numbered 32 inner points, priest performing worship at each station, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple courtyard scene, eastern gate ceremony with attendants, offerings, and a ring of 32 lit niches along the inner wall, refined architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राग्द्वारविन्यासे = प्राक् + द्वारविन्यासे; यजेद् द्वात्रिंशदन्तगान् = यजेत् + द्वात्रिंशत् + अन्तगान्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 42 (nyāsa, dvāra/prākāra devatā placement); Agni Purana (pūjā-vidhi and maṇḍala-related chapters elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It teaches dvāra–prākāra devatā-vinyāsa: the prescribed worship and placement of specific protective deities at the eastern gate and along the enclosure wall, including a set of thirty-two inner-perimeter deities.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical temple-ritual and Vāstu-oriented procedure—mapping deities onto architectural elements (gate and wall) as a technical manual for consecration and protection.
Correctly worshipping the gate and perimeter deities is presented as ensuring ritual completeness, protection of the sacred space, and the removal of obstacles (vighna-śānti) during worship and consecration.