Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 38
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
श्रीसूक्तं पावमानीश् च मैत्रकञ्च वृषाकपिं ऋग्वेदी सर्वदिग्भागे सर्वमेतत् समुच्चरेत्
śrīsūktaṃ pāvamānīś ca maitrakañca vṛṣākapiṃ ṛgvedī sarvadigbhāge sarvametat samuccaret
พราหมณ์ฝ่ายฤคเวทพึงสาธยาย ศรีสูคตะ ปาวมานี ไมตรกะ และวฤษากปิ ทั้งหมดนี้โดยหันไปยังทุกทิศ
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual recitation)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Specifies protective/auspicious Ṛgvedic recitations (Śrī-sūkta, Pāvamānī, Maitraka, Vṛṣākapi) to be uttered in all directions for dik-bandhana and śānti.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Directional Recitation Set for Ṛgvedin: Śrī-sūkta and Allied Hymns","lookup_keywords":["Śrī-sūkta","Pāvamānī","Vṛṣākapi","Maitraka","dik-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"A Ṛgvedin performs quarter-wise protection by reciting a fixed set of hymns—Śrī-sūkta and specified Ṛgvedic hymns—toward every direction."}
Concept: Śabda (Vedic recitation) functions as protective boundary (dik-bandhana) and auspicious invocation.
Application: During śānti/protection phases, recite the specified sūktas facing each quarter to ‘seal’ the space before subsequent rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vedic Suktas, Dik-bandhana, and Protective Recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Ṛgvedin priest turns to each direction, chanting from memory, with a drawn directional diagram; the ritual arena is encircled by an implied sonic boundary as the hymns are recited.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest rotating to four/eight directions around a central maṇḍala, stylized sound-waves, palm-leaf manuscript nearby, calm protective aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold halo-like radiance expanding to all directions, priest holding a manuscript, directional guardians implied at corners, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of priest facing cardinal directions sequentially, clear quarter markers, subtle depiction of hymnal titles via symbols (lotus for Śrī)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with compass-like floor pattern, priest turning to recite, attendants holding water-pot and manuscript, refined architectural background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pāvamānīś ca = pāvamānīḥ + ca; maitrakañca = maitrakam + ca; sarvametat = sarvam + etat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (śānti, dik-bandhana, Vedic assignments)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific set of Ṛgvedic hymns (Śrī-sūkta, Pāvamānī, Maitraka, Vṛṣākapi) to be recited in relation to all directions, functioning as a structured mantra-samuccaya for ritual completeness and protection.
By cataloging named Vedic hymns and prescribing their practical deployment (direction-wise recitation), the text operates like a ritual handbook—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic functions alongside its coverage of polity, medicine, architecture, and arts.
Direction-wise recitation of purificatory and auspicious hymns is intended to sanctify the practitioner’s space, invoke prosperity and well-being, and remove ritual impurities—thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and inner/outer purification.