Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
नगरादिवास्तुकथनं
Discourse on Vāstu for Cities and Related Settlements
ईशाद्यष्टाष्टकं दिक्षु यजेदीशं धनञ्जयं शक्रमर्कं तथा सत्यं भृशं व्योम च पूर्वतः
īśādyaṣṭāṣṭakaṃ dikṣu yajedīśaṃ dhanañjayaṃ śakramarkaṃ tathā satyaṃ bhṛśaṃ vyoma ca pūrvataḥ
ในทิศทั้งหลาย พึงบูชาชุดอัษฏกะที่เริ่มด้วยอีศะ คือ อีศะ ธนัญชัย ศักระ อรกะ สัตยะ ภฤศะ และวยมาน; โดยจัดวางและบูชาเรียงลำดับเริ่มจากทิศตะวันออก
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional (dik) worship protocol: placing specific deities in the eight directions for protection, balance, and ritual completeness in pūjā and vāstu contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-devatā/Aṣṭa-set Worship from the East: Īśa–Vyoman","lookup_keywords":["dikpāla","aṣṭa-devatā","Īśa","Śakra","Arka","pūrvataḥ"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes worship of an eightfold directional set beginning with Īśa, arranged starting from the eastern direction. It provides a practical mapping for ritual placement and protective invocation."}
Concept: Ritual completeness requires honoring the directional powers; harmony arises from acknowledging cosmic order (dik-niyama).
Application: In pūjā, place offerings/nyāsa in the eight directions starting from east, reciting the corresponding names to establish dik-rakṣā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dikpala / Aṣṭa-devatā worship in the directions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An altar or maṇḍala with eight directional stations; a priest begins in the east, offering to Īśa and proceeding around to the other named deities, forming a protective ring.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular maṇḍala with eight directional deities in stylized niches, priest at the eastern station, lamps and conch, strong symmetry and sacred geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central altar with gold-leaf border, eight deity panels around the frame labeled Īśa, Dhanañjaya, Śakra, Arka, Satya, Bhṛśa, Vyoman, ornate offerings and kalashas","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear diagrammatic layout of eight directions around a square/lotus maṇḍala, priest demonstrating sequence starting from east, minimal but precise icon panels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard view of a ritual circle with eight stations, attendants holding trays, fine detailing of directional markers and inscriptions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yajedīśaṃ resolved as yajet īśam (t/d sandhi). śakramarkaṃ resolved as śakram arkam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: dikpāla/dik-nyāsa materials in pūjā-vidhi sections (contextual); Agni Purana: vāstu chapters where dik-devatā placement supports site-rituals (contextual)
FAQs
It prescribes an aṣṭa-devatā (eight-deity) directional worship: a specific set beginning with Īśa is to be invoked and honoured in the quarters, starting from the eastern direction.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual handbook: it catalogues named deity-sets, their placement by direction, and the correct sequencing—details used in temple and domestic pūjā systems.
Directional worship is intended to harmonize the ritual space, invoke protection and order in the quarters, and make the rite (yajña/pūjā) complete and auspicious, thereby supporting purity and merit (puṇya).