Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
मोदकान् ब्रह्मणः प्राच्यां षट्पादाय मरीचये सवित्रे रक्तपुष्पाणि वह्न्यधःकोणकोष्ठके
modakān brahmaṇaḥ prācyāṃ ṣaṭpādāya marīcaye savitre raktapuṣpāṇi vahnyadhaḥkoṇakoṣṭhake
Di arah timur, hendaklah dipersembahkan modaka (kuih manis) kepada Brahmā. Juga persembahkan kepada Ṣaṭpāda dan Marīci; dan kepada Savitṛ hendaklah dipersembahkan bunga merah—semuanya diletakkan pada petak sudut bawah (tenggara) yang berkaitan dengan Api (Agni).
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mandala-puja in dik-nyasa: assigning specific naivedya/upachara to deities placed in directional compartments (koṣṭhaka), especially the agni (SE) corner.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prācī-dik & Agni-koṇa koṣṭhaka offerings (Brahmā–Ṣaṭpāda–Marīci–Savitṛ)","lookup_keywords":["modaka","Brahmā offering","Agni-koṇa koṣṭhaka","Savitṛ red flowers","Marīci"],"quick_summary":"Offer modakas to Brahmā in the east; place offerings for Ṣaṭpāda and Marīci; offer red flowers to Savitṛ, positioned in the lower SE (Agni) compartment of the mandala."}
Concept: Devatā-bheda and dik-bheda: efficacy arises from correct correspondence of deity, direction, and offering.
Application: Use a gridded mandala; label koṣṭhakas; place naivedya/upachara exactly as prescribed to avoid doṣa in pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala-deva-pujana / Dikpala-nyasa and offerings by direction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala drawn as a square grid with labeled eastern and SE (Agni) compartments; a priest places modakas in the east for Brahmā and red flowers in the SE compartment for Savitṛ, with small offering bowls for Ṣaṭpāda and Marīci.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, priest in white mundu performing mandala-puja, square koṣṭhaka grid on floor, modaka plate in east, red flowers in Agni corner, subtle glyph labels for Brahmā, Savitṛ, Marīci, Ṣaṭpāda","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels, mandala grid with ornate borders, Brahmā symbol in east, Savitṛ sun-disc motif in SE, modakas and red flowers rendered richly, temple interior lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional diagram feel: labeled directions, koṣṭhaka compartments, priest placing offerings step-by-step, muted palette with detailed vessels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of mandala grid on carpet, attendants holding trays of modakas and red flowers, fine calligraphy labels for deities, architectural niche with fire-lamp indicating Agni corner"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वह्न्यधःकोणकोष्ठके → वह्नि-अधः-कोण-कोष्ठके (य्-आगम/सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (Mandala-deva-pūjana / dikpāla-nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It gives a precise puja prescription: which offerings (modaka, red flowers) are assigned to specific deities and where they are placed within the mandala’s directional/corner compartments (koṣṭhakas), including the fire-associated corner.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s catalog-like ritual engineering—mapping deities, directions, and exact offerings into a structured mandala system, alongside its many other domains (temple rites, vows, polity, medicine, and arts).
Following the correct directional placement and deity-specific offerings is taught as a means of ritual correctness (vidhi), believed to harmonize cosmic forces, remove obstacles, and accrue merit through orderly worship.