Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
तदधःकोष्ठके दद्यात् सावित्र्यै च कुशोदकं दक्षिणे चन्दनं रक्तं षट्पदाय विवस्वते
tadadhaḥkoṣṭhake dadyāt sāvitryai ca kuśodakaṃ dakṣiṇe candanaṃ raktaṃ ṣaṭpadāya vivasvate
ในช่องถัดลงไปพึงวางน้ำกุศะเป็นเครื่องบูชาแด่พระสาวิตรี และด้านทิศใต้พึงตั้งจันทน์แดงเป็นเลปแด่ษัฏปาทะ—วิวัสวัต (พระอาทิตย์)
Lord Agni (instructing the ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Sequential placement of offerings in adjacent mandala compartments: kuśodaka for Sāvitrī and red sandal paste for Vivasvat/Ṣaṭpāda on the south side.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Koṣṭhaka offerings: Sāvitrī (kuśodaka) and Vivasvat/Ṣaṭpāda (rakta-candana)","lookup_keywords":["kuśodaka","Sāvitrī offering","Vivasvat","rakta-candana","south compartment"],"quick_summary":"Place kuśa-infused water in the lower compartment for Sāvitrī; apply/offer red sandal paste on the southern side for Vivasvat (Sun), identified here with Ṣaṭpāda."}
Concept: Upacāra-niyama: specific substances (kuśa-water, red sandal) are matched to specific devatās for ritual resonance.
Application: Prepare kuśodaka (water sanctified with kuśa) and rakta-candana; place them in the correct koṣṭhakas before proceeding to the next dik offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Savitrī/Vivasvat offerings and mandala placement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala grid with a highlighted lower compartment; a small copper vessel of kuśodaka is set for Sāvitrī, while a dish of red sandal paste is placed on the southern side for Vivasvat/Ṣaṭpāda.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest placing a copper lota with kuśa blades into a lower koṣṭhaka, red sandal paste bowl on south edge, sun-disc motif for Vivasvat, minimal but clear directional markers","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on the lota and sandal bowl, radiant sun halo for Vivasvat, decorative mandala border, rich reds emphasizing rakta-candana","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: arrows to 'tad-adhaḥ-koṣṭhaka' and 'dakṣiṇa', labeled vessels (kuśodaka, candana), calm temple floor setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous vessels and textiles, attendant holds kuśa bundle, another holds red sandal paste, mandala grid drawn with fine geometry, calligraphic labels Sāvitrī and Vivasvat"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदधःकोष्ठके → तत्-अधः-कोष्ठके (द् + अ → द, पदच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (Sāvitrī/Savitṛ placements around Agni corner)
FAQs
It prescribes precise placement of offerings in a ritual grid: kuśa-purified water is assigned to Sāvitrī in the lower compartment, and red sandalwood paste is placed to the south for Vivasvat (Sūrya).
It records granular, procedural liturgy—how substances, directions, and deities correspond within a mandala/altar layout—showing the text’s practical coverage of ritual technology alongside broader Purāṇic theology.
Following deity- and direction-specific offerings is taught as a means to align the rite with cosmic order (ṛta), enhancing purity, efficacy of mantra/homa, and the merit (puṇya) of the performer.