Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 42 — प्रासादलक्षणकथनं
Prāsāda-lakṣaṇa-kathana: Characteristics of the Temple/Prāsāda
शुकान् प्राग्द्वारविन्यासे पादान्तःस्थान् यजेत् सुरान् तथा प्राकारविन्यासे यजेद् द्वात्रिंशदन्तगान्
śukān prāgdvāravinyāse pādāntaḥsthān yajet surān tathā prākāravinyāse yajed dvātriṃśadantagān
Trong việc bố trí (vinyāsa) cổng phía Đông, nên thờ cúng các Śuka (thần vẹt) và các thần an vị ở tận cùng các phương; cũng vậy, trong việc bố trí tường bao (prākāra), nên thờ cúng ba mươi hai vị thần ở phía trong.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing devatā-nyāsa and worship during gateway and prākāra layout: invoking specific guardian deities (Śukas, dik-anta devatās, and 32 inner deities) to ritually secure the temple perimeter.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvāra–Prākāra Devatā-vinyāsa: Śuka and 32 inner deities worship","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-vinyāsa","prākāra-vinyāsa","śuka","dvātriṃśat devatāḥ","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"At the eastern gate placement, worship the Śukas and the deities at the quarter-ends; for the enclosing wall placement, worship the thirty-two deities stationed on the inner side to consecrate and protect the boundary."}
Concept: Kṣetra-rakṣā through devatā-nyāsa: space is sacralized by assigning divine presences to thresholds and perimeters.
Application: Before/while constructing or consecrating gates and walls, perform prescribed worship to align the site with protective cosmology and reduce ritual faults (doṣa) in layout.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala, Dvara, Prakara Devata-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Sacred-architecture element
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual layout at an eastern gateway: priests placing offerings and marking deity positions; parrots/Śuka symbols near the gate; along the inner side of the enclosure wall, 32 deity points indicated with lamps and flowers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest performing nyāsa at the eastern gopura, stylized green parrots as Śuka symbols, lamps and flower offerings, inner prākāra marked with 32 glowing points, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented eastern gateway with gold work, priests offering flowers and incense, Śuka motifs near the threshold, 32 deity stations shown as gold medallions along the inner wall","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional depiction: plan of gateway and enclosure with numbered 32 inner points, priest performing worship at each station, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple courtyard scene, eastern gate ceremony with attendants, offerings, and a ring of 32 lit niches along the inner wall, refined architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राग्द्वारविन्यासे = प्राक् + द्वारविन्यासे; यजेद् द्वात्रिंशदन्तगान् = यजेत् + द्वात्रिंशत् + अन्तगान्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 42 (nyāsa, dvāra/prākāra devatā placement); Agni Purana (pūjā-vidhi and maṇḍala-related chapters elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It teaches dvāra–prākāra devatā-vinyāsa: the prescribed worship and placement of specific protective deities at the eastern gate and along the enclosure wall, including a set of thirty-two inner-perimeter deities.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical temple-ritual and Vāstu-oriented procedure—mapping deities onto architectural elements (gate and wall) as a technical manual for consecration and protection.
Correctly worshipping the gate and perimeter deities is presented as ensuring ritual completeness, protection of the sacred space, and the removal of obstacles (vighna-śānti) during worship and consecration.