Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
यदाधारादिभेदेन प्रासादेष्वपि पञ्चधा परीक्षमथ मेदिन्याः कुर्यात्प्रासादकाम्यया
yadādhārādibhedena prāsādeṣvapi pañcadhā parīkṣamatha medinyāḥ kuryātprāsādakāmyayā
ดังนั้น ตามความแตกต่างที่เริ่มจากฐานรากและส่วนรองรับอื่น ๆ ในการสร้างปราสาท (วิหาร) ก็ควรตรวจสอบผืนดินเป็นห้าประการ หากปรารถนาจะก่อสร้างปราสาท.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purāṇa narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Directs builders to conduct a fivefold soil/site examination based on foundation-related criteria before constructing a prāsāda, preventing structural and ritual defects.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcadhā Medinī-parīkṣā for Prāsāda (Fivefold ground testing)","lookup_keywords":["medinī-parīkṣā","bhūmi-parīkṣā","prāsāda","ādhāra","foundation"],"quick_summary":"Before temple construction, the ground must be examined in five ways according to foundation and related bases; this ensures suitability, stability, and auspiciousness for a prāsāda."}
Concept: Right action begins with right examination: structural and sacred success depends on testing the supporting ground (ādhāra).
Application: Adopt standardized site-testing before laying foundations to avoid subsidence, inauspicious omens, and later need for corrective rites.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa / Temple Architecture and Site-Testing)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sthapati and assistants examine a temple site: digging test pits, checking soil layers, marking foundation lines, and recording fivefold criteria before construction begins.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, outdoor temple site with palm trees, sthapati holding measuring cord, workers digging small pits, ritual pots nearby, earthy palette, stylized landscape borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial site-testing with gold-highlighted measuring tools and kalasha, sthapati pointing to foundation grid, rich decorative frame, auspicious motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical diagram-like scene: foundation grid, test pits, labeled steps of fivefold examination, soft colors and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed construction camp with survey ropes, measuring rods, scribes noting observations, layered soil shown in cutaway pits, realistic flora and architecture sketches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यदाधारादिभेदेन = यत् + आधारादिभेदेन; प्रासादेष्वपि = प्रासादेषु + अपि; परीक्षमथ = परीक्षाम् + अथ; कुर्यात्प्रासादकाम्यया = कुर्यात् + प्रासादकाम्यया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.7 (land classification by color/odor as part of bhūmi-parīkṣā); Agni Purana Vāstu/Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa sections (site selection, measurements, foundations)
FAQs
It teaches Vāstu-śāstra procedure: before constructing a prāsāda, the builder should conduct a fivefold examination of the site/soil, aligned with structural categories beginning from the foundation (ādhāra).
By prescribing a technical construction protocol (bhū-parīkṣā and foundation-based classification) for temple building, it shows the Purāṇa functioning as a practical manual of architecture alongside its religious and mythic content.
Selecting and testing the ground properly is treated as a dhārmic prerequisite for sacred construction, helping ensure the prāsāda is established on a fit, auspicious site and thereby supports pure worship and merit-producing acts.