Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 93 — वास्तुपूजादिविधानम्
Procedure for Vāstu-worship and Related Rites
षट्पदास्तु मरीच्याद्या दिक्षु पूर्वादिषु क्रमात् मध्ये चतुष्पदो ब्रह्मा शेषास्तु पदिकाः स्मृताः
ṣaṭpadāstu marīcyādyā dikṣu pūrvādiṣu kramāt madhye catuṣpado brahmā śeṣāstu padikāḥ smṛtāḥ
ในทิศตะวันออกเป็นต้นไป ตามลำดับ มรีจิและท่านอื่น ๆ ประจำอยู่ในตำแหน่งหกส่วน; ณ ศูนย์กลาง พรหมาอยู่ในตำแหน่งสี่ส่วน; ส่วนที่เหลือถือว่าอยู่ในตำแหน่งย่อย (อุปปทะ) ทั้งหลาย।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s standard discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Using cosmographic assignment of sages/deities to directional ‘padas’ and Brahmā at the center to structure mandalas, vāstu-puruṣa grids, and ritual visualizations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Lokavinyāsa: directional padas for Marīci etc., Brahmā in the center","lookup_keywords":["Marici","pada-vinyasa","Brahma-center","dik-vyavastha","lokavinyasa"],"quick_summary":"Assign specific beings to directional positions in a graded grid: Marīci and others occupy six-fold directional slots from the east onward, Brahmā holds the central four-fold slot, and remaining entities fill subsidiary quarter-positions."}
Concept: Ordered cosmos: beings are situated by function and locus (center, directions, subsidiary quarters), reflecting a knowable structure to reality.
Application: Apply the center/direction hierarchy when drawing mandalas, planning sacred space, or performing directional invocations.
Khanda Section: Cosmography & Sacred Geography (Lokavinyāsa / Dik-devatā-vyavasthā)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square or circular cosmographic grid: Brahmā seated in the center; Marīci and other sages placed in ordered directional compartments; smaller subsidiary padas filled around.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala with central Brahmā on lotus, surrounding compartments with ṛṣis in seated poses, strong symmetry, decorative borders, earthy reds and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Brahmā with gold halo and lotus throne, surrounding directional panels with sages, gold-leaf grid lines, ornate corner flourishes","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, schematic yet elegant mandala chart with labeled padas, central Brahmā emphasized, soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, plan-view cosmographic diagram with central enthroned Brahmā, sages in cartouches around, fine inscriptions, architectural frame like a manuscript folio"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षट्पदास्तु = षट्पदाः + तु; शेषास्तु = शेषाः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (dik-devata and mandala assignments)
FAQs
It gives a rule of spatial allocation: specific sages/deities (beginning with Marīci) are placed in ordered directional slots, Brahmā is fixed at the central slot, and others take subsidiary quarter-positions—useful for mandala-style layouts in ritual or vastu planning.
It preserves a technical mapping of beings onto space (directions and center), reflecting the Purana’s catalog-like treatment of cosmography, ritual architecture (mandala/vinyāsa), and systematic classifications alongside other sciences.
Correct directional and central placement aligns a rite or sacred space with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting ritual efficacy, harmony, and the intended merit (puṇya) from properly structured worship or consecration.