Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
अङ्गुलीयप्रभृतिभिर्मूर्तिपान् वलयादिभिः कुण्डे कुण्डे स्थापयेच्च मूर्तिपांस्तत्र पारगान्
aṅgulīyaprabhṛtibhirmūrtipān valayādibhiḥ kuṇḍe kuṇḍe sthāpayecca mūrtipāṃstatra pāragān
ด้วยสัญลักษณ์พิธีกรรมเช่นแหวนและสิ่งคล้ายกัน พร้อมกำไลและเครื่องประดับอื่น ๆ พึงสถาปนาในกุณฑะทุกแห่งเหล่ามูรติปะ คือพราหมณ์ผู้ประกอบพิธีที่ชำนาญในวิธีนั้น
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Kunda-sthāpana/nyāsa during homa: assigning ritual emblems (aṅgulīyaka, valaya etc.) and installing mūrtipāḥ (functionary-deities/officiants) per kunda to stabilize roles, directions, and offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kunda-wise installation of mūrtipāḥ using ritual emblems","lookup_keywords":["kunda-sthapana","murti-nyasa","aṅgulīyaka","valaya","mūrtipāḥ"],"quick_summary":"During fire-ritual setup, each fire-pit is ritually ‘populated’ by competent mūrtipāḥ using prescribed emblems like rings/bracelets, ensuring correct assignment of ritual agency and protection of the rite."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct adhikāra (competence) and nyāsa (placement/assignment) of powers and roles.
Application: Ensure trained officiants and correct symbolic installations per kunda to avoid doṣa (ritual fault) and to ‘seal’ the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Kunda-sthapana and Murti-nyasa in fire-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yajña-śālā with multiple fire-pits; officiants place rings/bracelets as ritual emblems and perform nyāsa, installing mūrtipāḥ at each kunda with measured, formal gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, interior yajña-śālā with multiple kundas, priests in white dhoti performing nyāsa, ritual emblems (rings, bangles) highlighted, warm ochres and reds, stylized flames, sacred geometry on floor","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kunda with ornate torana-like frame, priests installing mūrtipāḥ, gold-leaf accents on ritual ornaments (rings/bracelets), rich maroons and greens, embossed detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing multiple kundas in grid, labeled ritual emblems and placement, delicate linework, soft palette, emphasis on procedure and hand-gestures (mudrā)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion adapted as yajña-śālā, multiple small fire-pits, finely detailed jewelry-emblems, attendants and officiants arranged symmetrically, crisp architectural borders and patterned textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुलीयप्रभृतिभिः = अङ्गुलीय-प्रभृतिभिः; स्थापयेच्च = स्थापयेत् + च; मूर्तिपांस्तत्र = मूर्तिपान् + तत्र.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (pūjā-vidhi: kunda-sthāpana, nyāsa, maṇḍala/āvaraṇa procedures)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for multi-kunda rites: in each fire-pit, establish the designated mūrtipāḥ (image-linked ritual agents/officiants), using prescribed ritual emblems such as rings and bracelets as identifiers or consecrated accessories.
Beyond theology, it preserves operational ritual technology—how to organize personnel and placements across multiple fire-altars (kundas), including the use of consecrated accessories—showing the text’s practical, manual-like coverage of worship systems.
Correct installation and competent officiation (pāragāḥ) are presented as safeguards of ritual purity and efficacy, ensuring that the homa produces its intended merit (puṇya) and avoids faults arising from improper placement or unqualified performance.