Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
कोणेषु विन्यसेद् वंशौ रज्जवो ऽष्टौ विकोणगाः ॐ इं उं इति घ , ङ् च पञ्चगव्येन संसिक्तान् इति ग न्यूनादिदोषनाशार्थमिति घ यजेदस्रेण शुद्ध्यर्थमाहुतीनामिति घ वास्तुमण्डलमिति ग ङ तत इति श्लोकार्धं घ पुस्तके नास्ति विन्यसेद्वंशमिति ख द्विपदाः षट्पदास्तास्तु वास्तुन्तत्रार्चयेद् यथा
koṇeṣu vinyased vaṃśau rajjavo 'ṣṭau vikoṇagāḥ oṃ iṃ uṃ iti gha , ṅ ca pañcagavyena saṃsiktān iti ga nyūnādidoṣanāśārthamiti gha yajedasreṇa śuddhyarthamāhutīnāmiti gha vāstumaṇḍalamiti ga ṅa tata iti ślokārdhaṃ gha pustake nāsti vinyasedvaṃśamiti kha dvipadāḥ ṣaṭpadāstāstu vāstuntatrārcayed yathā
Hendaklah diletakkan batang-batang buluh pada penjuru, dan lapan tali direntang mengikut arah serong pertengahan. Ukuran tali-tali itu ialah dua dan enam pada; dan di atas maṇḍala itu, hendaklah Vāstu (roh penaung tapak) dipuja menurut tatacara yang wajar.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Practical method for setting out the mandala: fix corner stakes/bamboo rods and stretch eight cords along intermediate diagonal directions with specified pada-measures, then perform Vāstu worship on the established grid.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Corner Bamboo Stakes and Eight Cords for Vāstu-maṇḍala Setting-out","lookup_keywords":["vaṃśa","rajju","diagonal-cords","pada-measure","vāstu-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Establish the Vāstu grid by placing bamboo rods at corners and stretching eight cords through intermediate diagonal directions using prescribed pada lengths; then worship Vāstu on that mandala."}
Concept: Right measure (māna) and right orientation (dik) are prerequisites for inviting Vāstu-devatā; geometry becomes a ritual act.
Application: Use stakes and cords to ensure squareness/diagonals before beginning wall lines; treat the completed grid as the altar for Vāstu-arcana.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Vāstumaṇḍala-vidhi / Temple & site-planning ritual)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Workers place bamboo stakes at the four corners; eight cords are stretched diagonally and through intermediate directions, marking the grid; a priest prepares to worship Vāstu on the completed mandala.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: corner bamboo stakes and taut cords forming diagonals, white grid lines on earth, priest with offering tray near the center, stylized directional markers.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gleaming gold-highlighted cords over a mandala grid, corner stakes ornate, priest beginning Vāstu-arcana, temple tools arranged symmetrically.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear technical depiction of stakes and eight cords, labels for directions and pada lengths, subdued palette, emphasis on instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: artisans stretching cords with pegs, overseer holding plan, fine detail of knots and tools, background showing the site boundary and pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rajjavo 'ṣṭau: visarga + vowel → ' (avagraha); saṃsmared etc not here; nyūnādidoṣanāśārtham = nyūna-ādi-doṣa-nāśa-artham; śuddhyartham = śuddhi + artham; vāstuntatrārcayed = vāstum + tatra + arcayet (m+t→nt; a+a→ā). Non-verse editorial markers (gha/ga/ṅa/kha) treated as apparatus, not padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93.1 (64-square grid instruction); Agni Purana 93.3 (Vāstu-Puruṣa visualization and orientation)
FAQs
It teaches the vāstumaṇḍala layout method: fixing corner markers (bamboo rods) and stretching eight diagonal-direction cords with specified measures (two- and six-pada lengths), followed by worship of Vāstu on the prepared grid.
It exemplifies the text’s practical manuals: beyond mythology, it preserves technical Vāstu-śāstra—measurement, geometric layout, and consecratory worship—integrating architecture with ritual procedure.
Correctly establishing the site-grid and worshipping Vāstu is treated as a sanctifying act that harmonizes the building-space with its presiding power, helping avert doṣas (faults) and ensuring auspicious construction outcomes.