Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Rājābhiṣeka-kathana
Account of the Royal Consecration
करिदन्तोद्धृतमृदा दक्षिणन्तु तथा भुजं वृषशृङ्गोद्धृतमृदा वामञ्चैव तथा भुजं
karidantoddhṛtamṛdā dakṣiṇantu tathā bhujaṃ vṛṣaśṛṅgoddhṛtamṛdā vāmañcaiva tathā bhujaṃ
हत्तीच्या दाताने उचललेली माती घेऊन उजव्या भुजेचे (शोधन/लेपन) करावे; आणि बैलाच्या शिंगाने उचललेली माती घेऊन डाव्या भुजेचे.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Bhūmi-uddhāra/earth-lifting omen-mapping: interpreting directional/limb correspondences (right/left ‘arms’) through symbolic agents (elephant tusk, bull horn) for site-ritual decisions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Bhūmi-uddhāra directional mapping: elephant-tusk and bull-horn indicators","lookup_keywords":["vāstu","bhūmi-uddhāra","kari-danta","vṛṣa-śṛṅga","dakṣiṇa-vāma-bhuja"],"quick_summary":"In earth-lifting rites and site-omens, earth ‘raised by elephant tusk’ marks the right side/arm, while earth ‘raised by bull horn’ marks the left—used to read and align ritual directions."}
Concept: Bandhu (correspondence): mapping terrestrial operations to a cosmic/body schema (right/left arms) via emblematic animals.
Application: During vāstu preliminaries, keep consistent right/left orientation in excavation/earth-lifting symbolism to avoid ritual inversion and to standardize site readings.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Bhūmi-uddhāra (Cosmographic and ritual directions for earth-lifting forms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vāstu ritual diagram showing a human/cosmic figure with right and left arms labeled; on the right an elephant lifts earth with its tusk, on the left a bull lifts earth with its horn.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: symbolic composition with a vāstu-puruṣa-like figure faintly outlined, elephant on the right raising soil with tusk, bull on the left with horn, earthy reds and ochres, temple-ritual aesthetic.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: icon-like symmetrical panel with elephant and bull flanking a central directional diagram; gold highlights on borders and ritual implements; clear right/left labeling motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical illustration style—clean diagram of right/left arms with small vignettes of elephant-tusk and bull-horn earth-lifting; instructional clarity prioritized.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: pastoral yet precise scene with elephant and bull in landscaped setting lifting soil; a scholar-priest points to a parchment diagram indicating right/left arms; fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: करिदन्तोद्धृतमृदा = करि-दन्त-उद्धृत-मृदा; दक्षिणन्तु = दक्षिणम् + तु; वृषशृङ्गोद्धृतमृदा = वृष-शृङ्ग-उद्धृत-मृदा; वामञ्चैव = वामम् + च + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 218 (vāstu/bhūmi-uddhāra subsection)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-style directional rule: the ‘right’ and ‘left’ sides (arms/forelimbs) are identified through the traditional earth-lifting indicators—elephant-tusk lift for the right, bull-horn lift for the left.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied knowledge—here, practical directional identification used in Vāstu/ritual-cosmography and iconographic conventions linked to the earth-raising motif.
Correct directional understanding in sacred construction/ritual symbolism is treated as preserving cosmic order (ṛta), supporting purity and auspicious outcomes in consecratory acts.