Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 39 — भूपरिग्रहविधानम्
Bhū-parigraha-vidhāna: Procedure for Acquiring and Ritually Securing Land
कुरुक्षेत्रे गयादौ च नदीनान्तु समीपतः ब्रह्मा मध्ये तु नगरे पूर्वे शक्रस्य शोभनं
kurukṣetre gayādau ca nadīnāntu samīpataḥ brahmā madhye tu nagare pūrve śakrasya śobhanaṃ
കുരുക്ഷേത്രം, ഗയ മുതലായ പുണ്യക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിലും നദീതീരസമീപത്തും; നഗരത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ (ശ്രൈൻ), കിഴക്കിൽ ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) എന്നവന്റെ ശോഭന (ശ്രൈൻ) സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്നു।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for locating shrines within a sacred city/kshetra and near rivers; supports pilgrimage planning and civic sacred layout.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kṣetra-Nagara Devatā-Sthāna: Brahmā in the Center, Śakra in the East","lookup_keywords":["Kurukṣetra","Gayā","nadī-tīra","Brahmā-sthāna","Śakra/Indra","pūrva-dik","nagara-madhya"],"quick_summary":"In major kṣetras and riverine holy zones, the city’s sacred layout places Brahmā centrally and Śakra (Indra) to the east, indicating a directional theology for shrine placement."}
Concept: Sacred space is structured: tīrtha merit is supported by correct spatial ordering of deities and proximity to purifying waters.
Application: When establishing or visiting a kṣetra, prioritize river-adjacent sanctums and follow directional shrine circuits (center → east) as part of pilgrimage discipline.
Khanda Section: Tirtha-Mahatmya (Sacred Geography and Pilgrimage Merit)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred city by a river: central Brahmā shrine, eastern Indra shrine, pilgrims moving along ghats; Kurukṣetra/Gayā signboards or iconic cues (riverbank steps, banyan/peepal, tīrtha markers).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: river with ghats, stylized city grid; Brahmā temple at center, Indra temple to the east with banner; pilgrims in procession, traditional border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: two shrines with gold-highlighted vimānas; Brahmā central with four-faced icon, Indra on elephant Airāvata in eastern panel; rich ornamentation and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: semi-diagrammatic sacred map with compass directions; central Brahmā sanctum, east Indra sanctum; riverbank indicated; neat labels and soft coloration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: panoramic riverside townscape with two highlighted temples; pilgrims and priests; fine architectural detail, subdued palette, calligraphic annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नदीनान्तु = नदीनाम् + तु. गया-आदौ = गया + आदौ (ādi-compound).
Related Themes: Agni Purana tīrtha-mahātmya passages on Kurukṣetra and Gayā; Agni Purana vāstu/dik-nirdesha sections for devatā-sthāna
FAQs
It provides tirtha-topography: identifying sacred zones (Kurukṣetra, Gayā, river-proximity) and directional/locational placement of key deity-shrines (Brahmā centrally, Śakra to the east) for pilgrimage orientation.
By cataloging sacred geography and spatial religious mapping—place-lists, riverbank sanctity, and shrine orientation—alongside other domains (ritual, polity, medicine), it exemplifies the Purana’s compendium-style coverage.
It directs devotees to highly meritorious locales and shrine-positions, implying enhanced puṇya (religious merit) and purification through correctly oriented pilgrimage and worship in these sanctified areas.