Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
इष्टके त्वं प्रयच्छेष्टं प्रतिष्टाङ्कारयम्यहं देशस्वामिपुरस्वामिगृहस्वामिपरिग्रहे
iṣṭake tvaṃ prayaccheṣṭaṃ pratiṣṭāṅkārayamyahaṃ deśasvāmipurasvāmigṛhasvāmiparigrahe
ໂອ ອິດຖະກາ (iṣṭakā) ອິດພິທີປະຕິສະຖານ, ຂໍໃຫ້ປະທານພອນທີ່ປາດຖະໜາ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍກະທຳການປະຕິສະຖານອັນສັກສິດໃຫ້ແກ່ທ່ານ ໃນຂອບເຂດອຳນາດຂອງເຈົ້າແຜ່ນດິນ, ເຈົ້າເມືອງ, ແລະເຈົ້າເຮືອນ ຕາມການອຸປະຖຳອັນຊອບທຳ.
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the inquirer, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Consecrate a brick/altar element (iṣṭakā) during foundation/installation, ritually acknowledging layered guardianship (land/city/house) to stabilize ownership, protection, and auspicious occupancy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Iṣṭakā-pratiṣṭhā mantra with Deśa–Pura–Gṛha Svāmi Parigraha","lookup_keywords":["iṣṭakā","pratiṣṭhā","deśa-svāmi","pura-svāmi","gṛha-svāmi"],"quick_summary":"Install the consecration-brick with a boon-request and a formal statement of rightful guardianship across land, city, and household—integrating vāstu with social-legal order."}
Concept: Auspicious construction requires both ritual sanctification (pratiṣṭhā) and alignment with rightful stewardship (svāmitva/parigraha).
Application: Before occupancy or altar-setting, perform iṣṭakā-pratiṣṭhā while ritually affirming legitimate authority and protection over the site.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratiṣṭhā & Vāstu (brick/altar consecration and property-guardian rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: mangala
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A foundation-laying scene: a consecration brick held over a prepared pit, priest reciting, with symbols of land/city/house guardians (standards, seals, household emblem) witnessing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest placing an iṣṭakā into a sanctified pit, stylized guardians at the margins representing deśa/pura/gṛha, lamps and offerings, strong outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central brick consecration with ornate arch and gold highlights on ritual vessels, guardian motifs (emblems of land and city) in side panels, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: brick, pit, offerings, priest posture, with small caption-like visual cues for deśa/pura/gṛha guardianship; soft shading and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, construction courtyard with artisans and priest, brick being installed, administrative symbols (seal, banner) indicating jurisdiction, intricate architectural background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prayaccheṣṭam = prayaccha + iṣṭam; pratiṣṭāṅkārayamyahaṃ = pratiṣṭām + kārayāmi + aham (m + k → ṅk; kārayāmi + aham → kārayāmyaham).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vāstu and pratiṣṭhā/nyāsa sequences; mantras for foundation and guardians
FAQs
It gives a pratiṣṭhā-mantra style instruction for installing an iṣṭakā (ritual brick), invoking it to bestow the intended result while situating the rite within the recognized guardianship of land, city, and household authorities.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical liturgical language for construction/installation rites (vāstu and pratiṣṭhā), including social-juridical notions of rightful domain and guardianship—showing the Purana as a manual of applied ritual and civic order.
Correctly performing pratiṣṭhā sacralizes the material component (the brick) and aligns the act with dharmic order (proper guardianship), aiming at siddhi of the intended purpose and removal of ritual obstacles.