Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
तदर्धं दिशि संस्थाप्य भ्रामितं वर्तुलं भवेत् कुण्डार्धं कोणभागार्धं दिशिश्चोत्तरतो वहिः
tadardhaṃ diśi saṃsthāpya bhrāmitaṃ vartulaṃ bhavet kuṇḍārdhaṃ koṇabhāgārdhaṃ diśiścottarato vahiḥ
اس پیمائش کے نصف حصے کو مقررہ سمت میں قائم کرکے گھمانے سے دائرہ نما شکل بنتی ہے۔ اسی نصف پیمائش سے کُنڈ کا نصف متعین ہوتا ہے، اور گوشے کے حصے کا نصف بھی سمت میں—بیرونی طور پر—شمال کی طرف رکھا جاتا ہے۔
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Geometric setting-out of a circular/segmental agni-kuṇḍa using a half-measure and directional placement (especially northward offset) before excavation and lining.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Circular Kuṇḍa from Half-Measure (Directional Rotation)","lookup_keywords":["kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa","vṛttākāra","ardha-māna","diśā-nyāsa","uttara-bāhya"],"quick_summary":"Place the half-measure in the prescribed direction and rotate to generate a circle; use the half and corner-half portions to fix the kuṇḍa’s segment and its north-external directional offset."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct measure (māna) and direction (diś).
Application: Use measured rotation and directional offsets to avoid doṣa (fault) in altar construction, ensuring homa is performed on a properly constituted field.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-vidyā / Kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa (Fire-altar geometry and ritual construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual architect marks a ground-grid, places a half-measure cord in a chosen direction, and rotates it to scribe a circle; the north side shows an external offset line indicating the corner-half placement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and ochres, a yajña-śālā courtyard with a sthapati-priest drawing a circle with a cord and peg, clear north marker, minimal background, sacred geometry emphasized","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on measuring cord and boundary lines, priest-architect with stylus and peg, circular kuṇḍa outline with northward external offset, ornate but diagrammatic clarity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework showing compass-like rotation with cord, labeled directions (E/W/N/S) in Devanagari-like glyphs, central circle and corner-half offset, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard plan with artisans, peg-and-cord circle drawing, north side highlighted with a border strip, delicate architectural margins and tools rendered precisely"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदर्धम् = तत् + अर्धम्; दिशिश्चोत्तरतो = दिशि + च + उत्तरतः; अन्यत्र सन्धिः न्यूनः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (Kuṇḍa-nirmāṇa sequence: marking, shapes, measures)
FAQs
It teaches a geometric procedure used in yajña-kuṇḍa layout: placing a half-measure in a specified direction and rotating it to generate a circular boundary, with additional placement rules for the corner-segment toward the northern exterior.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied ritual-engineering—directional planning and geometric construction for fire-altars—showing the text’s coverage of vastu/śulba-style practical knowledge alongside religious instruction.
Accurate kuṇḍa construction is treated as essential for a correctly performed yajña, supporting purity, proper offering-transmission to the deities, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the rite.