Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
आकुञ्चितकचं वास्तुमुत्तानमसुराकृतिं स्मरेत् पूजासु कुड्यादिनिवेशे उत्तराननं
ākuñcitakacaṃ vāstumuttānamasurākṛtiṃ smaret pūjāsu kuḍyādiniveśe uttarānanaṃ
ในการบูชา พึงระลึกถึงวาสตุ (วาสตุปุรุษะ) ว่ามีผมหยิกงอ นอนหงาย (อุตตาน) และมีรูปดุจอสูร; และในการจัดวางกำแพงเป็นต้น พึงตั้งให้หันพระพักตร์ไปทางทิศเหนือ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dhyāna of Vāstu-Puruṣa for correct placement/orientation: visualize the supine Vāstu being with curled hair and asura-like form; align structural placements (walls etc.) with its north-facing orientation to avoid vāstu-doṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vāstu-Puruṣa Dhyāna: Supine, Curled Hair, Asura-like, North-facing","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-puruṣa","dhyāna","uttarānana","asurākṛti","kudya-niveśa"],"quick_summary":"For worship and planning, visualize Vāstu-Puruṣa as supine with curled hair and an asura-like form, oriented with face to the north; use this orientation while placing walls and structural elements."}
Concept: Space is ensouled: the site is approached as a living being (puruṣa) whose orientation and ‘body-map’ must be respected to harmonize human construction with subtle order.
Application: Before wall placement, perform Vāstu-Puruṣa dhyāna and confirm north direction; treat deviations as potential vāstu-doṣa requiring correction/śānti.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Vāstu and iconographic planning for worship spaces)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ground-mandala with a large supine Vāstu-Puruṣa superimposed; he has curled hair and an asura-like visage, face turned north; architects align wall lines around the mapped body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Vāstu-Puruṣa lying supine across a mandala grid, curled hair, fierce asura-like features, north direction marked, priests offering flowers, bold flat colors and ornate border.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vāstu-Puruṣa rendered with gold halo accents, lying on the mandala, north arrow prominent, priests and sthapati at edges placing wall markers, rich jewel tones and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional iconography—clean mandala grid with Vāstu-Puruṣa overlay, labeled north-facing head, wall lines indicated, delicate linework and muted palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed plan-view scene with a mythic figure (Vāstu-Puruṣa) drawn over the site, surveyors aligning walls, fine calligraphic north marker, intricate textiles and tools."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāstumuttānamasurākṛtiṃ = vāstum + uttānam + asurākṛtim (m+u→mu; a+a→ā).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93.1-93.2 (mandala creation and measurement); Agni Purana 92 (foundation/śilānyāsa rites preceding)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra rule for pūjā-spaces: visualize the Vāstu-Puruṣa in a specific iconographic posture (supine, curled hair, asura-like) and orient the layout/placement of walls and components with a north-facing reference.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied technical sciences like Vāstu—practical guidelines for planning built space (kuḍya-ādi-niveśa) integrated directly into worship procedure.
Correct visualization and orientation align the worship site with the presiding Vāstu principle, supporting ritual purity and efficacy (siddhi) by avoiding inauspicious placement that could obstruct sacred outcomes.