Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 37
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
यागमण्डपाङ्गेण वा यूपब्रस्केति मन्त्रतः स्थाप्य तद्वेष्टयेद्वस्त्रैर् यूपोपरि पताकिकां
yāgamaṇḍapāṅgeṇa vā yūpabrasketi mantrataḥ sthāpya tadveṣṭayedvastrair yūpopari patākikāṃ
เมื่อสถาปนาด้วยมนต์ “ยาคมณฑปางเณṇa” หรือมนต์ “ยूपบรสกะ” แล้ว พึงพันหุ้มด้วยผ้า และปักธงเล็กไว้บนยอดยूपะ.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual instructions, traditionally to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Use specified installation mantras for yūpa/maṇḍapa integration, then complete external sanctification by cloth-wrapping and raising a banner for visibility and auspicious marking.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Yūpa-sthāpana mantras and external consecration (cloth wrap, banner)","lookup_keywords":["yāgamaṇḍapāṅgeṇa","yūpabraska","yūpa","veṣṭana","patākā"],"quick_summary":"Install the yūpa with the stated mantras, then wrap it in cloth and place a small banner atop—ritual sealing plus auspicious public sign."}
Concept: Mantra as the activating principle for installation; external markers (cloth, banner) as completion of saṃskāra.
Application: Recite the correct mantra at the moment of fixing; then seal and mark the installation to maintain sanctity and ritual order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajna-vidhi / Agni-karya: sacrificial pavilion and yupa installation)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yāga pavilion with a newly erected yūpa; priests chant while wrapping the post in clean cloth; a small triangular banner is fixed at the top, fluttering above the pavilion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, pavilion with carved pillars, yūpa wrapped in white cloth bands, priests in chanting posture, small red banner atop, stylized sound-lines and sacred motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted banner and cloth borders, yūpa central and luminous, priests with ritual implements, ornate pavilion arch, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional scene: mantra recitation indicated by palm-leaf text strip, cloth wrapping shown in sequence, banner attachment detail, clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion setting, detailed textiles wrapping the yūpa, attendants holding banner pole, calligraphic cartouche with mantra names, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यागमण्डपाङ्गेण = याग-मण्डप-अङ्गेण; यूपब्रस्केति = यूप-ब्रस्क-इति; तद्वेष्टयेद्वस्त्रैः = तत् वेष्टयेत् वस्त्रैः; यूपोपरि = यूप-उपरि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64.34-38 (sequence: placement → measurement/material → mantra-installation → offerings/dakṣiṇā)
FAQs
It prescribes the mantra-governed installation of the yūpa (sacrificial post) and its formal decoration—wrapping with cloth and placing a pennant—indicating correct yajña-maṇḍapa setup protocol.
Beyond theology, it records precise operational details of ritual infrastructure (posts, coverings, banners) and mantra-application, preserving a practical manual-like layer of yajña technology within a Purāṇic compendium.
Mantra-based installation and orderly adornment sanctify the yajña-space, supporting ritual purity (śuddhi) and correctness (vidhi), which are traditionally held to ensure the intended merit (puṇya) and efficacy of the sacrifice.