Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
मोदकान् ब्रह्मणः प्राच्यां षट्पादाय मरीचये सवित्रे रक्तपुष्पाणि वह्न्यधःकोणकोष्ठके
modakān brahmaṇaḥ prācyāṃ ṣaṭpādāya marīcaye savitre raktapuṣpāṇi vahnyadhaḥkoṇakoṣṭhake
ทิศตะวันออกพึงถวายโมทกะแด่พระพรหมา และถวายแก่ษัฏปาทะกับมรีจิด้วย; ส่วนพระสวิตฤพึงถวายดอกไม้สีแดง—ให้วางเครื่องบูชาไว้ในช่องมุมล่างทิศอาคเนย์อันสัมพันธ์กับอัคนี
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mandala-puja in dik-nyasa: assigning specific naivedya/upachara to deities placed in directional compartments (koṣṭhaka), especially the agni (SE) corner.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prācī-dik & Agni-koṇa koṣṭhaka offerings (Brahmā–Ṣaṭpāda–Marīci–Savitṛ)","lookup_keywords":["modaka","Brahmā offering","Agni-koṇa koṣṭhaka","Savitṛ red flowers","Marīci"],"quick_summary":"Offer modakas to Brahmā in the east; place offerings for Ṣaṭpāda and Marīci; offer red flowers to Savitṛ, positioned in the lower SE (Agni) compartment of the mandala."}
Concept: Devatā-bheda and dik-bheda: efficacy arises from correct correspondence of deity, direction, and offering.
Application: Use a gridded mandala; label koṣṭhakas; place naivedya/upachara exactly as prescribed to avoid doṣa in pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala-deva-pujana / Dikpala-nyasa and offerings by direction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala drawn as a square grid with labeled eastern and SE (Agni) compartments; a priest places modakas in the east for Brahmā and red flowers in the SE compartment for Savitṛ, with small offering bowls for Ṣaṭpāda and Marīci.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, priest in white mundu performing mandala-puja, square koṣṭhaka grid on floor, modaka plate in east, red flowers in Agni corner, subtle glyph labels for Brahmā, Savitṛ, Marīci, Ṣaṭpāda","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels, mandala grid with ornate borders, Brahmā symbol in east, Savitṛ sun-disc motif in SE, modakas and red flowers rendered richly, temple interior lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional diagram feel: labeled directions, koṣṭhaka compartments, priest placing offerings step-by-step, muted palette with detailed vessels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of mandala grid on carpet, attendants holding trays of modakas and red flowers, fine calligraphy labels for deities, architectural niche with fire-lamp indicating Agni corner"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वह्न्यधःकोणकोष्ठके → वह्नि-अधः-कोण-कोष्ठके (य्-आगम/सन्धि-विच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (Mandala-deva-pūjana / dikpāla-nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It gives a precise puja prescription: which offerings (modaka, red flowers) are assigned to specific deities and where they are placed within the mandala’s directional/corner compartments (koṣṭhakas), including the fire-associated corner.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s catalog-like ritual engineering—mapping deities, directions, and exact offerings into a structured mandala system, alongside its many other domains (temple rites, vows, polity, medicine, and arts).
Following the correct directional placement and deity-specific offerings is taught as a means of ritual correctness (vidhi), believed to harmonize cosmic forces, remove obstacles, and accrue merit through orderly worship.