Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 43
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
ऊर्ध्वगे द्विपदे लिङ्गमन्दिरं पार्श्वकोष्ठयोः मध्येन द्बिपदं पद्ममथ चैकञ्च पङ्कजं
ūrdhvage dvipade liṅgamandiraṃ pārśvakoṣṭhayoḥ madhyena dbipadaṃ padmamatha caikañca paṅkajaṃ
Sa itaas (hilagang) sukat na dalawang talampakan, ilagay ang dambana ng Liṅga; at sa gitnang puwang sa pagitan ng dalawang gilid na silid-nitsa, gawin ang lotus na may sukat na dalawang talampakan—kasama rin ang isang lotus na nag-iisa.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple plan placement rules: locating a liṅga-shrine in a specified northern/upper module and placing lotus motifs of defined measures between side-niches for correct prāsāda layout.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liṅga-mandira Sthāpana and Padma-vinyāsa in Prāsāda Plan","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-mandira","pārśva-koṣṭha","padma-vinyāsa","dvipada-māna","prāsāda-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Specifies where to place the liṅga-shrine and how to set lotus elements by measure within the interspace of side-niches, guiding canonical temple layout."}
Concept: Sacred space is made efficacious through proportion (māna) and correct placement (sthāna) of deity-centers and auspicious motifs.
Application: Use module-based measurement to avoid asymmetry and ensure ritually valid shrine placement.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa (Temple Architecture and Iconographic Layout)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple ground-plan grid showing the northern/upper dvipada zone marked for a liṅga-shrine, with two side-niches and a central interspace containing a two-module lotus and a single-module lotus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural look, architect-sage pointing to a floor-plan drawn in red ochre, liṅga-shrine indicated in the upper sector, stylized lotus rosettes between side niches, temple setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore panel: gilded lotus medallions on a schematic plan, small silvered liṅga-shrine icon in the upper grid, ornate borders, rich maroon background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting: crisp grid (pada) with labeled dvipada and ekapada lotuses, side niches drawn symmetrically, muted colors and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a master-builder presenting a measured plan to a patron, plan shows niches and lotus medallions, fine geometric detailing and calligraphic annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"measured","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: liṅgamandiraṃ → liṅga-mandiram; pārśvakoṣṭhayoḥ is a compound; dbipadaṃ normalized to dvi-padam; caikañca → ca ekam ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 319 (prāsāda/koṣṭha/pada layout rules)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu/Prāsāda rule: where to locate the Liṅga-shrine within a measured plan (dvipada), and how to position lotus (padma/paṅkaja) motifs/pedestals relative to the side-niches and the central axis.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied architectural standards—precise spatial measurements and iconographic placements—showing the Agni Purāṇa as a compendium that includes Vāstu-śāstra and temple-planning alongside theology.
Correct placement of the Liṅga-shrine and its lotus bases is treated as ensuring ritual efficacy and auspicious flow within sacred space, supporting purity, stability, and merit (puṇya) through properly ordered worship architecture.