Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 65 — सभास्थापनकथनं
Account of Establishing an Assembly-hall
यथा राज्ञां तथान्येषां पूर्वाद्याश् च ध्वजादयः कोणभुजान् वर्जयित्वा चतुःशालं तु वर्तयेत्
yathā rājñāṃ tathānyeṣāṃ pūrvādyāś ca dhvajādayaḥ koṇabhujān varjayitvā catuḥśālaṃ tu vartayet
ดังเช่นของพระราชา ฉันใด ของผู้อื่นก็ฉันนั้น พึงจัดธงและเครื่องหมายต่าง ๆ ให้สอดคล้องกับทิศตะวันออกเป็นต้น แต่พึงเว้นส่วนยื่นที่มุม (แนวปีกมุม) แล้วดำเนินผังแบบจตุศาลา คือสี่ห้องโถง/สี่ศาลา.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Directional planning for standards/flags and layout discipline: arrange directional markers appropriately, avoid corner projections, and implement a four-hall quadrangular plan suitable for royal and non-royal contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Catuḥśālā plan and avoidance of corner projections (koṇa-bhuja-varjana)","lookup_keywords":["catushala","kona-bhuja","dhvaja","dik-vinyasa","vastu-plan"],"quick_summary":"For both royal and common constructions, directional standards like flags are to be set properly; corner projections are to be avoided, and a quadrangular four-hall plan is recommended for orderly vāstu."}
Concept: Harmony through proportion, direction, and restraint in form; avoiding irregular projections supports auspicious flow and functional clarity.
Application: Use simple, symmetric plans for public/royal buildings; place flags/standards as directional identifiers; minimize awkward corners for circulation, stability, and vāstu compliance.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Architecture & Site-Planning)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Architects lay out a square quadrangle with four halls; flags/standards mark east and other directions; corners are shown clean without protruding wings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized ground plan with directional flags, craftsmen with measuring cords, a neat quadrangular catuḥśālā, muted instructional serenity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, symmetrical palace/assembly quadrangle with gold-highlighted dhvaja standards at cardinal points, crisp geometry and ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical illustration feel: square plan, four halls, arrows for directions, flags labeled, emphasis on avoiding corner projections.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architects presenting a plan to a patron, flags on a courtyard building, precise geometry rendered with fine detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथान्येषां = तथा + अन्येषाम्; पूर्वाद्याश् = पूर्व-आद्याः (विसर्ग-लोप); ध्वजादयः = ध्वज-आदयः; चतुःशालं = चतुः-शालम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sabhā-sthāpana context (65.1–65.2); Agni Purana: other vāstu chapters on maṇḍapa/prāsāda plans and dik-vinyāsa
FAQs
Vāstu-vidyā guidance: place directional markers (dhvaja etc.) according to the east and other directions, avoid corner-projections, and adopt a catuḥśāla (four-wing/quadrangular) plan.
It shows the text’s practical coverage beyond theology—encoding architectural planning rules (directionality, building geometry, standardized layouts) typical of Vāstu-śāstra embedded within a Purāṇic compendium.
In Purāṇic Vāstu, correct directional order and well-formed layouts are treated as dharmic alignment of space, supporting auspiciousness and reducing doṣa (inauspicious architectural faults) for the patron and occupants.