Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
पाषाणादिष्वेव जलं पार्थिवं पृथिवीगुणं प्रतिशब्दोद्भवं शब्दं स्पर्शं स्यात् कर्कशादिकं
pāṣāṇādiṣveva jalaṃ pārthivaṃ pṛthivīguṇaṃ pratiśabdodbhavaṃ śabdaṃ sparśaṃ syāt karkaśādikaṃ
Dalam batu dan seumpamanya, air hadir; ia bersifat ‘pārthiva’ (berunsur bumi) dan memikul sifat-sifat bumi. Di sana bunyi timbul sebagai gema (bunyi balas), dan sifat sentuhan adalah jenis ‘kasar’ (karkaśa) dan seumpamanya.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Analyzing how elemental qualities and sensory properties manifest in composite substances (e.g., stone), supporting Vaiśeṣika-style inference and ritual material selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhūta-guṇa in composites: water in stone; echo-sound; rough touch","lookup_keywords":["pāṣāṇa","āp/jala in stone","pārthiva-guṇa","pratiśabda (echo)","karkaśa-sparśa"],"quick_summary":"Explains that even in apparently solid substances like stone, other elements (water) are present, while earth-qualities dominate; sound may appear as echo and touch as roughness. Practically, it trains one to read guṇa in materials rather than assume single-element purity."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Guṇa are discerned in dravya by observation and inference: composites contain multiple bhūtas though one may predominate; sensory phenomena (echo, roughness) indicate underlying tanmātra/guṇa.
Application: Apply guṇa-reading to choose ritual materials (stone types, surfaces), to reason about nature, and to support disciplined perception (pratyakṣa) plus inference (anumāna).
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Vaisheshika / Bhuta-tanmatra (Panchabhuta qualities and sensory properties)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stone slab shown with hidden moisture within; a person claps near a rock face producing an echo; a hand touches a rough stone surface labeled karkaśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized rocky landscape with a cutaway showing water droplets inside stone, a figure producing echo waves against a cliff, tactile ripples on a rough boulder, traditional earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, symbolic stone with gold-outlined texture, inset motif of water within, echo shown as concentric gold rings, hand touching roughness, ornamental framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional triptych: (1) stone cross-section with water, (2) echo demonstration, (3) rough touch close-up; fine lines, clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic canyon scene with travelers hearing echo, detailed rock textures, subtle depiction of moisture seepage, refined borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाषाणादिष्वेव = पाषाण-आदि-षु + एव (सप्तमी + एव; षु + ए → ष्वे); प्रतिशब्दोद्भवं = प्रति-शब्द-उद्भवम् (समास).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61.20 (element definitions); Agni Purana 61.22 (rūpa/rasa/gandha/śabda loci)
FAQs
It teaches a technical classification of matter: in dense substances like stone, water is said to be ‘earthy’ and the earth-element’s sensory qualities are described—echo-like sound and rough tactile sensation.
Beyond myth and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves systematic natural philosophy—mapping elements (bhūtas) to their observable properties (sound, touch), in a style aligned with Sāṅkhya/Vaiśeṣika categories.
By understanding creation through elemental qualities, the practitioner gains discriminative insight (viveka) into the material world, supporting detachment and clearer contemplation in dharma-oriented life.