Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 42 — प्रासादलक्षणकथनं
Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa-kathana: Characteristics of the Temple/Prāsāda
तत्तुरीयेणेति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः नैरृत्यां रामकं वायौ वामनं वासुदेवकं ईशे प्रासादरचना देया वस्वर्ककादिभिः द्वारस्य चाष्टमाद्यंशं त्यत्का बेधो न दोषभाक्
tatturīyeṇeti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ nairṛtyāṃ rāmakaṃ vāyau vāmanaṃ vāsudevakaṃ īśe prāsādaracanā deyā vasvarkakādibhiḥ dvārasya cāṣṭamādyaṃśaṃ tyatkā bedho na doṣabhāk
‘തത്തുരീയേണ’—എന്നിങ്ങനെ അടയാളപ്പെടുത്തിയ ഹസ്തപ്രതിയിൽ പാഠാന്തരം കാണുന്നു. നൈഋത്യ (തെക്ക്-പടിഞ്ഞാറ്) ദിശയിൽ ‘രാമക’ തരം, വായവ്യ (വടക്ക്-പടിഞ്ഞാറ്) ദിശയിൽ ‘വാമന’ തരം കൂടാതെ ‘വാസുദേവക’ തരം വിന്യസിക്കണം. ഈശാന (വടക്ക്-കിഴക്ക്) ദിശയിൽ വസു, അർക്ക മുതലായ അളവുക്രമങ്ങളാൽ പ്രാസാദരചന നൽകണം. ദ്വാരത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യ അഷ്ടമാംശം ഒഴിവാക്കി ചെയ്യുന്ന ബേധം (രന്ധ്രം/തുറവ്) ദോഷകരമല്ല।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple site-planning and prāsāda typology allocation by quarters; guidance on doorway fractions and permissible openings to avoid vāstu/ritual defects.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāsāda-yojana by quarters; doorway aṣṭamāṃśa and non-doṣa bedha","lookup_keywords":["prāsāda-lakṣaṇa","Rāmaka","Vāmana","Vāsudevaka","dvāra aṣṭamāṃśa"],"quick_summary":"Assign specific prāsāda plan-types to specific quarters and lay out measures by standard modules (Vasu, Arka, etc.). Doorway rules: excluding the first eighth-part, making an opening/piercing does not create a vāstu/ritual defect."}
Concept: Ritual-architecture concordance: correct proportion and placement avert doṣa and sustain auspiciousness.
Application: Architect/priest uses quarter-allocation and doorway fraction rules during design and renovation to prevent vāstu faults.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa (Temple Architecture and Site-Planning)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple plan diagram divided into quarters, labeling Rāmaka in southwest, Vāmana in northwest, Vāsudevaka type, and a measurement series (Vasu, Arka, etc.); a doorway shown with the first eighth-part marked off and a permissible opening beyond it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic applied to a vāstu diagram: prāsāda plan with directional deities faintly indicated, quarter labels (nairṛtya, vāyavya, īśāna), doorway fraction highlighted, traditional red-ochre palette and ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore-style framed architectural schematic: gold-highlighted doorway and measurement modules, stylized temple elevation inset, rich colors, embossed borders, quarter-wise plan types annotated","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional layout: grid plan, compass directions, labeled prāsāda types (Rāmaka, Vāmana, Vāsudevaka), doorway aṣṭamāṃśa marked with fine lines, architect with palm-leaf manuscript and measuring cord","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of an architect and priest reviewing a temple blueprint, compass and measuring rope, plan divided into quarters, doorway fraction illustrated, detailed workshop setting with instruments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ’ resolved as cihnita + pustaka + pāṭhaḥ. ‘vasvarkakādibhiḥ’ resolved as vasvarkaka-ādibhiḥ. ‘cāṣṭamādyaṃśam’ resolved as ca + aṣṭama-ādya-aṃśam. ‘tyatkā’ read as tyaktvā (contextual correction).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 42 (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa chapter context); Agni Purana 43 (Prāsāda-devatā-sthāpana follows)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu/Prāsāda-vidyā rules: assigning specific temple plan-types to particular directions (SW, NW, NE) and a technical doorway rule—excluding the first one-eighth portion, an opening/piercing (bedha) does not count as a दोष (architectural/ritual defect).
Beyond theology, it preserves applied architectural standards—directional zoning, named prāsāda typologies, and proportional constraints—showing the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compendium of practical sciences (Vāstu-śāstra) alongside religious instruction.
In temple-building, avoiding doṣa is tied to ritual purity and auspiciousness: correct directional placement and non-defective openings are treated as ensuring the sanctity and beneficial spiritual effects of the prāsāda for patrons and worshippers.