Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
Kapilādipūjāvidhāna — Procedure for Worship Beginning with Kapilā
सम्मार्जन्यां देवतोक्ते कामाय शयनीयके मध्यस्तम्भे च स्कन्दाय दत्वा वास्तुबलिं ततः
sammārjanyāṃ devatokte kāmāya śayanīyake madhyastambhe ca skandāya datvā vāstubaliṃ tataḥ
จากนั้น ณ ที่กวาด/ชำระ (สัมมารชะนี) พึงถวายตามที่กำหนดแก่เทพ; ในห้องบรรทมพึงถวายแด่กามะ และที่เสากลางพึงถวายแด่สกันทะ ครั้นถวายวาสตุพลีแล้ว จึงดำเนินพิธีต่อไป.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/vidhi sections of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"House-consecration and protective vāstu-bali: assigning deities to functional zones—cleansing spot, sleeping chamber (Kāma), and central pillar (Skanda)—to stabilize auspiciousness and ward off harm in the dwelling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāstu-bali Placements: Cleansing Spot, Bedchamber (Kāma), Central Pillar (Skanda)","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-bali","sammārjanī","śayanīyaka","madhya-stambha","Skanda"],"quick_summary":"Perform vāstu-bali by offering at key house-nodes: the cleansing locus, the sleeping apartment to Kāma for harmony, and the central pillar to Skanda for protection and structural vitality."}
Concept: Gṛhastha-dharma sacralizes space: cleanliness (sammārjana), regulated desire (Kāma), and protection/valor (Skanda) are harmonized through ritual placement.
Application: During gṛha-praveśa or periodic śānti, make small offerings at these nodes to maintain auspicious household rhythms.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidhi (House-consecration, protective rites, and Vastu-bali offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A newly consecrated house interior: a broom/cleansing spot with offerings, a bedchamber corner honored to Kāma, and a prominent central pillar receiving offerings to Skanda; vāstu-bali items arranged in order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, house interior as sacred diagram, central pillar emphasized, Skanda depicted with spear (vel) near the pillar, Kāma motif near bedchamber, offerings at sweeping spot, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on central pillar and Skanda’s halo, rich textiles in bedchamber with subtle Kāma symbolism, offering plates, auspicious kalasha, vibrant reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: three labeled zones (sammārjanī, śayanīyaka, madhya-stambha), priest placing bali, soft pastel palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural cutaway of a house with rooms, central pillar in the middle, attendants placing offerings, Skanda as a small divine figure near pillar, refined interior decor and perspective."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवतोक्ते → देवता-उक्ते; मध्यस्तम्भे → मध्य-स्तम्भे; वास्तुबलिं → वास्तु-बलिम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu-vidhi chapters (vāstu-maṇḍala, bali, śānti); Agni Purana 77 (gṛha-devatā placements)
FAQs
It teaches a Vāstu-vidhi sequence: make deity-specific offerings at designated house-locations—Kāma in the sleeping area, Skanda at the central pillar—and then complete the rite with a formal vāstu-bali to pacify the site-forces.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual: here it records applied domestic ritual engineering (vāstu), mapping deities to architectural nodes (bedroom, central post) and prescribing protective offerings for habitation.
By propitiating household deities and the vāstu principle, the rite is intended to remove subtle obstacles (doṣa), secure protection for residents, and sanctify the dwelling so that daily life and dharma proceed without harm.