Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
यागमण्डपमध्ये स्याद्वेदिका कुण्डमण्डिता तोरणं वारुणं कुम्भं न्यसेच्च करकान्वितं
yāgamaṇḍapamadhye syādvedikā kuṇḍamaṇḍitā toraṇaṃ vāruṇaṃ kumbhaṃ nyasecca karakānvitaṃ
กลางมณฑปบูชายัญพึงมีเวทิกาอันประดับด้วยกุณฑะ (หลุมไฟ). พึงตั้งโตรณะ และวางวารุณกุมภะพร้อมภาชนะพรมน้ำ (กรกา)
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing and arranging the yajña-maṇḍapa: central vedi and kuṇḍa placement, installing toraṇa and Varuṇa-kumbha with sprinkling vessel for ritual purity and boundary-setting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-maṇḍapa Madhya-Vedi, Kuṇḍa, Toraṇa, Vāruṇa-Kumbha-sthāpana","lookup_keywords":["yāga-maṇḍapa","vedikā","agni-kuṇḍa","toraṇa","vāruṇa-kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Keep the altar-platform and fire-pit at the pavilion’s center; establish a ceremonial gateway and place the Varuṇa-pot with a sprinkling vessel to support purification and ritual order."}
Concept: Śuddhi and maryādā (purity and boundary) are established through correct spatial placement of ritual supports.
Application: Use spatial discipline—center, threshold, and water-implements—to stabilize attention and maintain ritual cleanliness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajna-mandapa & Agni-kunda arrangements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacrificial pavilion with a central raised vedi bearing a fire-pit; a decorated toraṇa at the entrance; a Varuṇa-kumbha set with a small sprinkling vessel beside it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, yajña-maṇḍapa interior, central vedi and agni-kuṇḍa, ornate toraṇa at doorway, Varuṇa-kumbha with karakā, earthy reds and ochres, flat iconic composition, ritual attendants in traditional dress","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on toraṇa and vedi edges, central agni-kuṇḍa glowing, richly ornamented kumbha with mango leaves and coconut, priestly figures, symmetrical sacred geometry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing maṇḍapa plan-like clarity, central vedi/kuṇḍa emphasized, labeled ritual objects (toraṇa, kumbha, karakā), soft colors and delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion architecture with patterned textiles, central fire-pit on platform, attendants placing Varuṇa-kumbha and sprinkling vessel, fine borders and naturalistic vessels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syād vedikā → syādvedikā; nyaset ca → nyasecca; karaka-anvitam → karakānvitaṃ (ā + a → ā; n + v).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (Pūjā-vidhi sections on maṇḍapa/kuṇḍa/kalaśa)
FAQs
It prescribes the core layout of a yāga-maṇḍapa: establishing the central vedi with a kuṇḍa, and installing ritual markers and water-purification implements such as the vāruṇa-kumbha and karakā for sprinkling (prokṣaṇa).
It records precise, implement-level ritual engineering—mandapa planning, altar/fire-pit placement, and purification vessels—showing the text’s practical coverage of temple/yajña procedure alongside its broader teachings.
Correct placement of the altar, fire-pit, and Varuṇa-associated water vessels supports ritual purity (śuddhi) and orderly invocation of deities, helping ensure the rite yields its intended merit (puṇya) without procedural defects.