Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तदर्धं दिशि संस्थाप्य भ्रामितं वर्तुलं भवेत् कुण्डार्धं कोणभागार्धं दिशिश्चोत्तरतो वहिः
tadardhaṃ diśi saṃsthāpya bhrāmitaṃ vartulaṃ bhavet kuṇḍārdhaṃ koṇabhāgārdhaṃ diśiścottarato vahiḥ
ആ അളവിന്റെ പകുതി നിശ്ചിത ദിശയിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ഭ്രമിപ്പിച്ചാൽ വൃത്താകാരം ഉണ്ടാകും. ആ പകുതി അളവുകൊണ്ട് കുണ്ടത്തിന്റെ പകുതി നിർണ്ണയിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; കൂടാതെ കോണഭാഗത്തിന്റെ പകുതിയും ദിശയിൽ—ബാഹ്യമായി—ഉത്തരത്തോട്ടു സ്ഥാപിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Geometric setting-out of a circular/segmental agni-kuṇḍa using a half-measure and directional placement (especially northward offset) before excavation and lining.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Circular Kuṇḍa from Half-Measure (Directional Rotation)","lookup_keywords":["kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa","vṛttākāra","ardha-māna","diśā-nyāsa","uttara-bāhya"],"quick_summary":"Place the half-measure in the prescribed direction and rotate to generate a circle; use the half and corner-half portions to fix the kuṇḍa’s segment and its north-external directional offset."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct measure (māna) and direction (diś).
Application: Use measured rotation and directional offsets to avoid doṣa (fault) in altar construction, ensuring homa is performed on a properly constituted field.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-vidyā / Kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa (Fire-altar geometry and ritual construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual architect marks a ground-grid, places a half-measure cord in a chosen direction, and rotates it to scribe a circle; the north side shows an external offset line indicating the corner-half placement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and ochres, a yajña-śālā courtyard with a sthapati-priest drawing a circle with a cord and peg, clear north marker, minimal background, sacred geometry emphasized","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on measuring cord and boundary lines, priest-architect with stylus and peg, circular kuṇḍa outline with northward external offset, ornate but diagrammatic clarity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework showing compass-like rotation with cord, labeled directions (E/W/N/S) in Devanagari-like glyphs, central circle and corner-half offset, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard plan with artisans, peg-and-cord circle drawing, north side highlighted with a border strip, delicate architectural margins and tools rendered precisely"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदर्धम् = तत् + अर्धम्; दिशिश्चोत्तरतो = दिशि + च + उत्तरतः; अन्यत्र सन्धिः न्यूनः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (Kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa sequence: marking, shapes, measures)
FAQs
It teaches a geometric procedure used in yajña-kuṇḍa layout: placing a half-measure in a specified direction and rotating it to generate a circular boundary, with additional placement rules for the corner-segment toward the northern exterior.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-engineering—directional planning and geometric construction for fire-altars—showing the text’s coverage of vastu/śulba-style practical knowledge alongside religious instruction.
Accurate kuṇḍa construction is treated as essential for a correctly performed yajña, supporting purity, proper offering-transmission to the deities, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the rite.