Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 40
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
षडस्रत्र्यस्रवृत्तादेर्मध्ये स्याच्चतुरस्रकं इपदे इति घ ईशानाद्याः शिवपदा स्कन्दाद्याः पदिका इति घ समञ्च स्थापने वास्तुश् चतुस्त्रिंशच्छतं भवेदिति घ पुस्तके ऽधिकः पाठः चतुःषष्टिपदो ब्रह्मा इत्य् आदिः, रज्जुवंशादि पूर्ववत् इत्य् अन्तः पाठो ग पुस्तके नास्ति खाते वास्तोः समं पृष्ठे न्यासे ब्रह्मशिलात्मके
ṣaḍasratryasravṛttādermadhye syāccaturasrakaṃ ipade iti gha īśānādyāḥ śivapadā skandādyāḥ padikā iti gha samañca sthāpane vāstuś catustriṃśacchataṃ bhavediti gha pustake 'dhikaḥ pāṭhaḥ catuḥṣaṣṭipado brahmā ity ādiḥ, rajjuvaṃśādi pūrvavat ity antaḥ pāṭho ga pustake nāsti khāte vāstoḥ samaṃ pṛṣṭhe nyāse brahmaśilātmake
ภายในรูปมณฑล เช่น หกเหลี่ยม สามเหลี่ยม วงกลม เป็นต้น ให้ตั้ง “สี่เหลี่ยมจัตุรัส” ไว้ตรงกลาง—สิ่งนี้เรียกว่า ‘ปทะ’ (ส่วนแบ่ง). ปทะที่เริ่มจากอีศานะเป็น ‘ศิวปทะ’; ปทะที่เริ่มจากสกันทะเรียกว่า ‘ปทิกา’ (ปทะย่อย). ในการตั้งสมัญจะ/เวทิกา มณฑลวาสตุเป็น 332 ส่วน—ตามคัมภีร์ว่าไว้. ในการขุดหลุม (ขาตะ) บนผิวด้านหลังที่ราบเสมอ พึงทำนยาสะในรูป ‘พรหมศิลา’.
Lord Agni (narrating Vāstu-vidhi in the Agni Purana dialogue tradition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing composite maṇḍalas (hexagon/triangle/circle with central square), assigning padas to deities (Śiva-padas, padikā), and performing nyāsa on the foundation/backfill surface (Brahmaśilā) during excavation and platform establishment.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-madhya-caturasra, pada-nāma, and Brahmaśilā-nyāsa in khāta","lookup_keywords":["ṣaḍasra","tryasra","vṛtta","madhye caturasra","īśāna-śiva-pada","brahmaśilā-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Set a central square within other geometric maṇḍala forms, classify padas by deity-groups (Īśāna onward as Śiva-padas; Skanda onward as padikā), and perform Brahmaśilā-form nyāsa on the leveled back-surface of the excavation before further construction."}
Concept: Consecration begins beneath the visible structure: order (maṇḍala) + invocation (nyāsa) sacralizes matter into a divine seat (Brahmaśilā).
Application: Before laying stones, level the pit, mark the maṇḍala, assign padas, and perform nyāsa to ritually stabilize the structure and its deity-field.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Temple/Vāstu Maṇḍala and Nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A foundation pit is leveled; over it a complex maṇḍala is drawn: outer circle/triangle/hexagon with a central square. Priests perform nyāsa on a marked Brahmaśilā while the sthapati indicates Īśāna and other directional padas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized geometric maṇḍala (circle/triangle/hexagon with central square) painted boldly, priest touching Brahmaśilā with mantra-gesture, directional deities indicated at corners, ritual lamps and kalasha","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Brahmaśilā at center with gold halo-like embossing, geometric maṇḍala lines in gold, priests performing nyāsa, ornate temple platform hinted in background, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labeled directions (Īśāna etc.), padas grouped as Śiva-padas and padikā, sthapati holding measuring cord, soft pastel palette, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisans and priests around a foundation pit, fine geometric drawing on ground, one scholar reading from palm-leaf manuscript noting variant readings, delicate architectural details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vṛttāder = vṛtta-ādeḥ; syāccaturasrakaṃ = syāt + caturasrakam; bhavediti = bhavet + iti; pustake 'dhikaḥ = pustake + adhikaḥ; ity ādiḥ = iti + ādiḥ; ity antaḥ = iti + antaḥ; vāstoḥ = vāstuḥ (gen. sg.). Several segments are manuscript notes; ‘gha/ga’ treated as markers; ‘i-pade/samañca’ uncertain readings.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (vāstupūjā, maṇḍala worship preliminaries); Agni Purana 94 (śilāvinnyāsa and deity-wise offerings continuation)
FAQs
It teaches Vāstu-vidyā: how to center a square within other maṇḍala shapes, classify padas (Śiva-padas and subsidiary padikā), and perform nyāsa at the foundation level identified with the Brahmaśilā.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical architectural and ritual engineering details—grid-divisions, deity-allocation of padas, foundation procedures, and even manuscript-variant notes—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium of applied śāstra.
Correct padanyāsa and Brahmaśilā-based foundation rites sacralize the building site, aligning the structure with deity-presences (Śiva/Brahmā etc.) and thereby supporting purity, stability, and auspiciousness of the consecrated space.