Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Pratiṣṭhā-sāmagrī-vidhāna — Prescription of Materials and Conditions for Consecration
वेदीपादान्तरं त्यक्त्वा कुण्डानि नव पञ्च वा एकं वा शिवकाष्ठायां प्राच्यां वा तद्गुरोः परं
vedīpādāntaraṃ tyaktvā kuṇḍāni nava pañca vā ekaṃ vā śivakāṣṭhāyāṃ prācyāṃ vā tadguroḥ paraṃ
เมื่อเว้นช่องว่างอันเหมาะสมระหว่างฐานรองของเวทีแล้ว พึงจัดตั้งกุณฑะ (หลุมไฟ) เก้าหลุม ห้าหลุม หรือเพียงหลุมเดียว บนพื้นไม้ที่เป็นมงคลและบริสุทธิ์ หรือทางทิศตะวันออก ตามคำชี้แนะของคุรุ
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Selection and placement of one or multiple homa-kuṇḍas with correct spacing and orientation, executed under guru’s directional instruction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kuṇḍa-saṅkhyā-sthāna (number and placement of fire-pits)","lookup_keywords":["kuṇḍa","vedī","pādāntara","prācī","guru-ājñā"],"quick_summary":"Maintain a clear interval between altar supports and establish 1/5/9 fire-pits on ritually suitable ground or to the east, following the guru’s prescribed direction."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct spatial order (deśa) and obedience to guru’s niyama.
Application: Before homa, verify spacing, ground purity, and orientation; treat guru’s instruction as the final pramāṇa for layout.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Homa-kunda-nirmana and Agni-karya procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Direction
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual ground with a raised vedī on wooden flooring, showing clear spacing between supports and one, five, or nine kuṇḍas arranged with emphasis on the eastern side; a guru indicates the correct direction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, a yajamāna and ācārya on a wooden ritual platform, multiple homa-kuṇḍas (1/5/9) with clear spacing, east marked with a rising sun motif, sacred geometry lines, traditional ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the vedī edges and kuṇḍa rims, guru pointing east, symmetrical arrangement of kuṇḍas, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition, labeled east direction, measured gaps between vedī supports, one/five/nine kuṇḍa options shown as panels, delicate linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual courtyard with wooden platform, guru and patron in profile, precise kuṇḍa layout, fine architectural border, calligraphic direction markers."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदीपादान्तरम् = वेदी-पाद-अन्तरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष). तद्गुरोः = तत्-गुरोः. अन्यत्र स्पष्ट-सन्धिः न्यूनः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 95 (Pūjā-vidhi: kuṇḍa/vedi topics)
FAQs
It gives a practical rule for homa setup: keep proper spacing around the altar supports and select the number of fire-pits (nine, five, or one), placing them on an auspicious base or toward the east, following the guru’s instruction.
Beyond theology, it preserves precise, implementable ritual engineering—numbers of kundas, spatial clearances, and directional placement—showing the text’s coverage of liturgy, altar design, and procedural orthopraxy.
Correct placement and spacing of kundas is treated as essential for ritual purity and efficacy; obeying the guru’s authoritative guidance safeguards the rite from defects (doṣa) and supports the intended merit (puṇya) of the homa.