Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 36
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
ग्राममध्ये च पूर्वे च प्रत्यग्द्वारं प्रकल्पयेत् विदिशासु च सर्वासु ग्रामे प्रत्यङ्मुखो भवेत् दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चैव पश्चिमे प्राङ्मुखो भवेत्
grāmamadhye ca pūrve ca pratyagdvāraṃ prakalpayet vidiśāsu ca sarvāsu grāme pratyaṅmukho bhavet dakṣiṇe cottare caiva paścime prāṅmukho bhavet
В середине селения и на его восточной стороне следует устроить ворота, обращённые на запад. Во всех промежуточных направлениях также вход/подход к селению должен быть обращён на запад. Но на южной и северной сторонах, а также на западной стороне, он должен быть обращён на восток.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Planning village gateways/approaches by direction to optimize auspicious orientation, circulation, defense, and ritual propriety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Grāma-dvāra-dik-nirṇaya (Directional rules for village gateways)","lookup_keywords":["grāma-dvāra","dik","pratyag-dvāra","prāṅmukha","vāstu-nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes which sides of a village should have west-facing versus east-facing gateways/approaches, including intermediate directions, as a directional planning rule."}
Concept: Cosmic directionality (dik) should govern human settlement design; order in space supports order in life.
Application: When laying out a village, assign gateway orientations by side/direction as per rule to align movement and thresholds with vāstu principles.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Town-planning and orientation rules)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bird’s-eye plan of a village with marked cardinal and intercardinal directions, showing gateways labeled west-facing or east-facing according to side; an architect instructs assistants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized mandala-like village plan with directional deities at quarters, gateways highlighted, architect-sage pointing with palm-leaf manuscript, rich reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, symmetrical grāma layout with gold accents on gateways, compass-like directional wheel, ornate frame, auspicious threshold motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram aesthetic: square/rectangular village, arrows indicating pratyag (west-facing) and prāṅ (east-facing) gates, labeled directions, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed townscape with walls and gates on different sides, small inscriptions for directions, planners consulting maps, refined linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रत्यग्द्वारम् = प्रत्यग् + द्वारम्; अनेन प्रकारे ‘प्रत्यङ्मुखः’ = प्रत्यङ् + मुखः; चोत्तरे = च + उत्तरे; चैव = च + एव; प्राङ्मुखः = प्राङ् + मुखः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (Vāstu rules preceding prāsāda chapter)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-śāstra guidance for grāma-niveśa: which sides of a village should have west-facing versus east-facing gateways/approaches, based on cardinal and intercardinal directions.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied sciences like architecture and civic layout—here, practical town-planning rules about directional orientation of entrances, a hallmark of its multi-disciplinary scope.
In Vāstu thought, correct directional orientation harmonizes the settlement with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting auspiciousness, prosperity, and reduced inauspicious influences for the community.