Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
चतुःषष्टिपदो ब्रह्मा मरीच्याद्याश् च देवताः चतुःपञ्चाशत्पदिका आपाद्यष्टौ रसाग्निभिः
catuḥṣaṣṭipado brahmā marīcyādyāś ca devatāḥ catuḥpañcāśatpadikā āpādyaṣṭau rasāgnibhiḥ
‘ബ്രഹ്മാ’ ഛന്ദസ് അറുപത്തിനാല് പദ/അക്ഷര ഘടകങ്ങളുള്ളതാണ്; മറിയിചി മുതലായ ദേവതകളിലും അതുപോലെ. ‘ചതുഃപഞ്ചാശത്പദികാ’ ഛന്ദസ് അമ്പത്തിനാല് പദങ്ങളുള്ളത്; ‘രസ’ ‘അഗ്നി’ എന്ന സംഖ്യാസങ്കേതം പ്രകാരം എട്ട് ചേർത്ത് എണ്ണം പൂരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Prosodic enumeration of syllable-counts (pada/akṣara units) for named metres and use of bhūta-saṅkhyā (rasa, agni) as mnemonic counting aids in chandas/mantra composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Chandas Counts: Brahmā (64) and Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā (54) with Bhūta-saṅkhyā Mnemonics","lookup_keywords":["chandas","Brahmā metre","Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā","bhūta-saṅkhyā","rasa agni numbers"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives syllabic-unit totals for specific metres and indicates mnemonic completion using number-codes like rasa and agni. It supports accurate metrical construction and mantra/chandas recitation discipline."}
Concept: Knowledge is stabilized through saṅkhyā (number), nāma (technical naming), and smṛti-aids (mnemonics).
Application: Compose/verify metres and mantra-verses by fixed counts; use bhūta-saṅkhyā codes to remember numerical targets during teaching and recitation.
Khanda Section: Chandas & Mantra-vidya (Prosody / Metre enumeration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher enumerates syllable counts on a palm-leaf manuscript: headings ‘Brahmā—64’ and ‘Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā—54’; beside them a mnemonic chart showing rasa=6 and agni=3 used for counting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru and disciples in a temple-school setting; palm-leaf manuscript with large numerals; stylized flames for agni and a circle of ‘rasas’ icons; warm ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: seated guru with manuscript, gold-highlighted numerals 64 and 54; symbolic agni flames in gold; ornate frame, devotional scholastic mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional board-like manuscript page; clear akṣara counting marks; small icons for rasa and agni as mnemonic; refined linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly scholar teaching prosody; detailed manuscript with marginalia; tiny illustrations of flames (agni) and aesthetic emblems (rasa); precise calligraphy and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-contemplative","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catuḥṣaṣṭipado → catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi-padaḥ; marīcyādyāś → marīci-ādyāḥ; catuḥpañcāśatpadikā → catuḥ-pañcāśat-padikāḥ; āpādyaṣṭau → āpādya aṣṭau; rasāgnibhiḥ → rasa-agnibhiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana chandas/prastāra sections (within/around 93); Agni Purana mantra-vidyā portions where chandas is prerequisite
FAQs
It imparts chandas-vidyā: identifying specific metres by their syllabic/metrical unit counts (e.g., ‘Brahmā’ as 64-unit, ‘Catuḥpañcāśat-padikā’ as 54-unit) and using mnemonic numerical codes (rasa/agni) for counting.
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves technical śāstra material—here, Sanskrit prosody and mnemonic number-coding—showing its scope across linguistic sciences used for composing and transmitting mantras and poetry.
Correct chandas supports accurate recitation and composition; in traditional practice, metrical precision is treated as safeguarding mantra efficacy and preserving the integrity (śuddhi) of sacred transmission.