Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 59
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
गम्भीरा नवहस्तके इति ज सोत्तरेषु इति ज यवस्य नवभक्तस्येत्यादिः पादवृद्धेषु सर्वत इत्य् अन्तः पाठो ङ पुस्तके नास्ति द्व्यंशवृंहितेति ख , घ , छ च त्र्यंशवृंहितेति ङ द्व्यंशवृद्धित इति ज लक्ष्मक्षेत्रेष्टधाभक्ते मूर्ध्निभागद्वये शुभे षड्भागपरिवर्तनमुक्त्वा भागद्वयन्त्वधः
gambhīrā navahastake iti ja sottareṣu iti ja yavasya navabhaktasyetyādiḥ pādavṛddheṣu sarvata ity antaḥ pāṭho ṅa pustake nāsti dvyaṃśavṛṃhiteti kha , gha , cha ca tryaṃśavṛṃhiteti ṅa dvyaṃśavṛddhita iti ja lakṣmakṣetreṣṭadhābhakte mūrdhnibhāgadvaye śubhe ṣaḍbhāgaparivartanamuktvā bhāgadvayantvadhaḥ
Bacaan “dalam—bagi yang sembilan hasta” terdapat dalam manuskrip Ja; dan “di bahagian utara” juga menurut Ja. Dicatat frasa yang bermula “bagi yava, dibahagi kepada sembilan bahagian…”. Bacaan dalaman “dengan pertambahan suku, pada semua sisi” tidak terdapat dalam manuskrip Ṅa. Variasi bacaan: Kha, Gha dan Cha membaca “ditambah dua bahagian”; Ṅa membaca “ditambah tiga bahagian”; Ja membaca “ditambah dua bahagian”. Bagi tapak bertuah (lakṣma-kṣetra) yang dibahagi kepada lapan bahagian, dua bahagian pada “kepala” adalah mujur; setelah menyatakan pertukaran enam bahagian, dua bahagian itu hendaklah diletakkan di bawah.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Kṣetra-lakṣaṇa and plot division for auspicious layouts: dividing land into eight parts, identifying auspicious head portions, and prescribing rearrangement (parivartana) of six parts with two placed below; also preserves manuscript variant readings for technical terms.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Lakṣma-kṣetra: Eightfold Plot Division and Portion Interchange (with Variant Readings)","lookup_keywords":["kṣetra-lakṣaṇa","lakṣma-kṣetra","aṣṭadhā-bhāga","mūrdhni-bhāga","parivartana"],"quick_summary":"An auspicious plot is divided into eight parts: the two ‘head’ portions are शुभ; after a prescribed interchange of six portions, the remaining two are placed below—guiding orientation and functional zoning, while noting textual variants affecting exact measures."}
Concept: Ordered space (kṣetra) supports auspicious living/ritual; correct orientation and division are treated as dhārmic safeguards against doṣa.
Application: In planning a site, mark eight divisions, prioritize the ‘head’ sectors as auspicious, and apply the prescribed rearrangement scheme before construction/installation.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Kṣetra-lakṣaṇa (land-measurement and plot division for auspicious layouts)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vāstu expert draws an eight-part grid on a plot, marking the ‘head’ (mūrdhni) two auspicious sections, then demonstrates the interchange of six sections and placement of two below; marginal notes show variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: vāstu-ācārya with stylus drawing an eightfold plot diagram on the ground, assistants holding palm-leaf manuscripts with variant notes, directional markers (uttara) shown, warm temple-school ambiance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate diagrammatic land-grid with gold borders, the two head portions highlighted as auspicious, priestly figure indicating rearrangement, rich decorative motifs around the plan.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional vāstu diagram—eight divisions, arrows showing parivartana of six parts, two parts placed below; side panel listing manuscript variants (dvyaṃśa/tryaṃśa).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: surveyor-scholar scene with a plotted grid on parchment, compass-like directional cues, scribes noting textual variants, refined architectural background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सottareṣu → स + उत्तरेषु; नवभक्तस्येत्यादिः → नवभक्तस्य + इति + आदिः; सर्वत इत्य् अन्तः → सर्वतः + इति + अन्तः; भागद्वयन्त्वधः → भागद्वयम् + तु + अधः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (kṣetra-lakṣaṇa and pramāṇa material around liṅga/installation)
FAQs
It preserves a Vāstu-śāstra rule-set on plot measurement and fractional division (hasta/yava-based), specifying which portions of an eight-part plot are auspicious and how portions may be interchanged for a favorable layout.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa records practical technical sciences—here, land measurement, proportional division, and layout optimization—showing its role as a compendium of applied knowledge (vāstu, planning, and auspicious configuration).
By arranging the plot so that auspicious portions occupy the proper ‘head’ and ‘lower’ positions, the practitioner aligns construction with śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious markers), traditionally believed to support prosperity, stability, and reduced inauspicious results for occupants and patrons.