Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 31
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
आपवत्सचतुष्टये इति ख तद्वत्सायै च तत्तले इति घ , ज च वाराह्यै इति ङ , छ च विपचे इति ख , छ च ततो मांसौदनमिति ख घ छ च कुम्भकायेति छ पिलिपिच्छायेति ङ लिपिपिञ्जायेति छ गृहे च नगरादौ च एकाशीतिपदैर् यजेत् त्रिपदा रज्जवः कार्याः षट्पदाश् च विकोणके
āpavatsacatuṣṭaye iti kha tadvatsāyai ca tattale iti gha , ja ca vārāhyai iti ṅa , cha ca vipace iti kha , cha ca tato māṃsaudanamiti kha gha cha ca kumbhakāyeti cha pilipicchāyeti ṅa lipipiñjāyeti cha gṛhe ca nagarādau ca ekāśītipadair yajet tripadā rajjavaḥ kāryāḥ ṣaṭpadāś ca vikoṇake
“Āpavatsa-catuṣṭaye”—(coloque/recite) na posição silábica “kha”; “Tad-vatsāyai ca tattale”—em “gha” (e também em “ja”); “Vārāhyai”—em “ṅa” (e também em “cha”); “Vipace”—em “kha” (e também em “cha”). Depois, “Māṃsa-odana”—em “kha”, “gha” e “cha”; “Kumbhakāya”—em “cha”; “Pilipicchāya”—em “ṅa”; “Lipipiñjāya”—em “cha”. Numa casa, numa cidade e noutros lugares, deve-se realizar o culto com um arranjo de oitenta e uma palavras/passos. As cordas (rajju) devem ser feitas em três medidas, e na diagonal (vikoṇa) em seis medidas.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue framework, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa/placement of mantras on specific syllable-positions within a vāstu/maṇḍala scheme; practical for constructing protective ritual grids in houses, towns, and sites using an 81-pada arrangement and measured cords.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-nyāsa on varṇa-sthāna and 81-pada worship; rajju-māna (3-pada, 6-pada vikoṇa)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa kha gha ṅa cha","ekāśīti-pada maṇḍala","rajju tripadā ṣaṭpadā","vāstu mantra placement"],"quick_summary":"Assign specific mantras to designated syllable/letter positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and perform worship on an 81-pada layout; prepare cords in three measures, and for diagonals use six measures."}
Concept: Mantra is operationalized through nyāsa and spatial order; correct placement and measure are themselves efficacy-conditions.
Application: When laying out a protective vāstu-maṇḍala, follow the specified mantra placements and cord-measures to avoid ritual/architectural faults.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-mantra Nyasa (Mantra applications in worship and ritual construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Dwelling/City/Settlement space
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram shows an 81-pada grid; a priest marks syllable-positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and inscribes/recites mantras (including Vārāhī). Measuring cords indicate three-unit lengths and six-unit diagonals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large geometric 9x9 grid (81 squares) on floor, priest pointing to squares labeled with Sanskrit syllables, stylized cords and knots, Vārāhī emblem in one sector, earthy reds/ochres and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted grid lines and ritual implements, priest with palm-leaf manuscript, squares inscribed with syllables, ornate kalaśa and lamps, Vārāhī symbol with halo, rich decorative border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic scene: 9x9 maṇḍala, labels kha/gha/ja/ṅa/cha, cords measured in 3 and 6 units shown with tick marks, calm indoor setting, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect-priest collaboration: one holds measuring cord, another writes syllables on a drawn grid, detailed textiles and instruments, subtle shading, precise geometry emphasized."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्तले = तत्-तले; मांसौदनम् = मांस-ओदनम्; मांसौदनमिति = मांस-ओदनम् + इति; कुम्भकायेति = कुम्भकाय + इति; पिलिपिच्छायेति = पिलिपिच्छायै + इति; लिपिपिञ्जायेति = लिपिपिञ्जाय + इति; एकाशीतिपदैर् = एकाशीति-पदैः + (र्-आदेशः). संकेताक्षराणि (ख, घ, ज, ङ, छ) पाठ-यन्त्र/विन्यास-चिह्नरूपेण अव्ययानि गृहीतानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (nyāsa, vāstu-maṇḍala, dik-devatā appeasement)
FAQs
It gives a coded nyāsa-style mapping of specific mantra-names/epithets to letter-positions (kha, gha, ja, ṅa, cha) and adds practical instructions for an 81-pada worship arrangement, including rope/cord measurements (3-unit cords, and 6-unit diagonals).
It combines mantra-technology (coded syllabic placement), goddess-invocation (Vārāhī), and ritual geometry/measurement (pada counts and diagonal cord lengths), illustrating how the Agni Purana integrates liturgy, tantra, and technical layout rules in a single chapter.
By performing worship with correct mantra placement and prescribed measurements, the rite is considered properly ‘formed’ (saṃskṛta) and thus more efficacious—supporting purification, protection, and the intended siddhi/merit associated with the invoked deities and offerings.