Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 36
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
ग्राममध्ये च पूर्वे च प्रत्यग्द्वारं प्रकल्पयेत् विदिशासु च सर्वासु ग्रामे प्रत्यङ्मुखो भवेत् दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चैव पश्चिमे प्राङ्मुखो भवेत्
grāmamadhye ca pūrve ca pratyagdvāraṃ prakalpayet vidiśāsu ca sarvāsu grāme pratyaṅmukho bhavet dakṣiṇe cottare caiva paścime prāṅmukho bhavet
ग्रामाच्या मध्यभागी व पूर्वेकडे पश्चिमाभिमुख द्वार करावे। सर्व विदिशांतही प्रवेश पश्चिमाभिमुख असावा। परंतु दक्षिण, उत्तर आणि पश्चिम बाजूस पूर्वाभिमुख करावे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Planning village gateways/approaches by direction to optimize auspicious orientation, circulation, defense, and ritual propriety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Grāma-dvāra-dik-nirṇaya (Directional rules for village gateways)","lookup_keywords":["grāma-dvāra","dik","pratyag-dvāra","prāṅmukha","vāstu-nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes which sides of a village should have west-facing versus east-facing gateways/approaches, including intermediate directions, as a directional planning rule."}
Concept: Cosmic directionality (dik) should govern human settlement design; order in space supports order in life.
Application: When laying out a village, assign gateway orientations by side/direction as per rule to align movement and thresholds with vāstu principles.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Town-planning and orientation rules)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bird’s-eye plan of a village with marked cardinal and intercardinal directions, showing gateways labeled west-facing or east-facing according to side; an architect instructs assistants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized mandala-like village plan with directional deities at quarters, gateways highlighted, architect-sage pointing with palm-leaf manuscript, rich reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, symmetrical grāma layout with gold accents on gateways, compass-like directional wheel, ornate frame, auspicious threshold motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram aesthetic: square/rectangular village, arrows indicating pratyag (west-facing) and prāṅ (east-facing) gates, labeled directions, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed townscape with walls and gates on different sides, small inscriptions for directions, planners consulting maps, refined linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रत्यग्द्वारम् = प्रत्यग् + द्वारम्; अनेन प्रकारे ‘प्रत्यङ्मुखः’ = प्रत्यङ् + मुखः; चोत्तरे = च + उत्तरे; चैव = च + एव; प्राङ्मुखः = प्राङ् + मुखः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Vāstu rules preceding prāsāda chapter)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-śāstra guidance for grāma-niveśa: which sides of a village should have west-facing versus east-facing gateways/approaches, based on cardinal and intercardinal directions.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied sciences like architecture and civic layout—here, practical town-planning rules about directional orientation of entrances, a hallmark of its multi-disciplinary scope.
In Vāstu thought, correct directional orientation harmonizes the settlement with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting auspiciousness, prosperity, and reduced inauspicious influences for the community.