Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 49
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अयुजो ऽश्वयुजश् चैव तुर्यावप्यष्टमावपि तस्योपपादप्राक्प्रत्यगरेषु च यथाक्रमं
ayujo 'śvayujaś caiva turyāvapyaṣṭamāvapi tasyopapādaprākpratyagareṣu ca yathākramaṃ
அதேபோல் ‘அயுஜ’ (ஒற்றைத் தொகுதி), ‘அஷ்வயுஜா’, நான்காவது மற்றும் எட்டாவது—இவற்றை முறையே அதன் துணைப் பாதங்களில், அதாவது பாத இடத்தில், கிழக்குப் பக்கத்தில், மேற்குப் பக்கத்தில் நிறுவ வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Nakṣatra classification/placement into subsidiary quarters (upapāda) with directional assignment (feet/east/west), used for muhurta selection, ritual layouts, and astrological mapping of lunar mansions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nakṣatra grouping and directional placement: ayuja set with Aśvayujā, 4th and 8th in upapāda quarters","lookup_keywords":["nakṣatra classification","ayuja nakṣatra","Aśvayujā","upapāda placement","east west feet"],"quick_summary":"Certain nakṣatra sets (including the odd group and Aśvayujā, with specified 4th and 8th members) are assigned क्रमशः to subsidiary quarters—feet, east, and west—supporting consistent astrological/ritual mapping."}
Concept: Cosmic order expressed through directional partitioning of lunar mansions.
Application: Apply the stated directional mapping when constructing nakṣatra-maṇḍalas, choosing muhurta, or aligning ritual stations with lunar mansion indications.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha (Nakshatra-vidya / Lunar mansion classification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A nakṣatra chart divided into subsidiary quarters, with labels for ‘feet’, ‘east’, and ‘west’; specific nakṣatra names are placed in sequence, emphasizing odd-group arrangement and Aśvayujā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style celestial chart on a temple wall, nakṣatra symbols arranged with directional labels, deep indigo background, priest-astrologer indicating placements with a stylus","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a jyotiṣa diagram: circular star-map with gold highlights, directional markers, nakṣatra names in Devanagari, ornate border and auspicious motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional star-chart, clean quadrant divisions labeled pāda/east/west, neat placement of nakṣatra names, scholar seated with palm-leaf manuscript","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of an astronomer with an illustrated nakṣatra map, fine calligraphy, instruments nearby, quadrant-based placement shown clearly"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अयुजोऽश्वयुजः = अयुजः + अश्वयुजः (ः + अ → ’); तुर्यावपि = तुर्यौ + अपि; अष्टमावपि = अष्टमौ + अपि; तस्योपपाद... = तस्य + उपपाद... .
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (jyotiṣa/nakṣatra subsection around 342.49)
FAQs
It gives a technical rule for grouping/placing specific nakṣatra-sets (odd, Aśvayujā, fourth, eighth) into designated diagrammatic divisions aligned with feet/quarters and the east–west directions.
It illustrates the Purana’s catalog-style transmission of precise Jyotiṣa/ritual-astronomy rules—enumerations, positional schemes, and directional placements—alongside its many other sciences.
Correct nakṣatra grouping and directional placement is treated as essential for ritual accuracy; performing rites with proper astronomical alignment is held to enhance efficacy and reduce ritual fault (doṣa).