Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
Chapter 246 — वास्तुलक्षणम्
Characteristics of Building-sites / Vāstu
कुशैः शरैस् तथाकाशैर् दूर्वाभिर्या च संश्रिता प्रार्च्य विप्रांश् च शिःशल्पां खातपूर्वन्तु कल्पयेत्
kuśaiḥ śarais tathākāśair dūrvābhiryā ca saṃśritā prārcya viprāṃś ca śiḥśalpāṃ khātapūrvantu kalpayet
Sau khi cúng bái đúng pháp bằng cỏ kuśa, mũi tên, cây ākāśa và cỏ dūrvā—cùng mọi vật phẩm được quy định—người ta nên kính trọng các Bà-la-môn; rồi sắp đặt nghi thức śiḥśalpa, khởi đầu bằng việc đào hố/đào điểm nghi lễ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing a śānti/pujā sequence for site-purification: offering specified grasses/plants, honoring brāhmaṇas, and beginning the rite with ritual digging (khaṭa/kuṇḍa preparation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiḥśalpa rite: pūjā with kuśa, śara, ākāśa-plant, and dūrvā; brāhmaṇa-satkāra; initial digging","lookup_keywords":["pūjā-vidhi","kuśa","dūrvā","śānti-kalpa","khaṭa-khanana"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a ritual sequence: worship using specific vegetal offerings, then honor brāhmaṇas, and commence the śiḥśalpa rite starting with digging the designated spot/pit. Used for pacifying obstacles before construction or consecratory acts."}
Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and honoring the learned as means to remove impediments (vighna-śānti) before worldly undertakings.
Application: Before beginning building or major work, perform a brief śānti: offer auspicious grasses, feed/honor brāhmaṇas, then start excavation with sanctified intent.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Ritual Worship Procedures / Śānti-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual at a construction site: priest offers kuśa, dūrvā, and other plants; brāhmaṇas seated to be honored; workers begin digging a marked square pit while mantras are recited.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple-site śānti scene; priest with kuśa bundle and dūrvā garland, offering into a small pit; brāhmaṇas in white seated receiving honor; earthy background, bold outlines, ritual implements clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly adorned ritual scene with gold leaf on vessels and altar; priest presenting kuśa and dūrvā; brāhmaṇas receiving dakṣiṇā; the first spade of earth lifted from a marked pit; ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of steps—offerings, brāhmaṇa-satkāra, then digging; clean composition with tools (spade, measuring cord) and plant bundles; subtle colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: outdoor ceremony with detailed textiles; scholars seated, officiant offering grasses; laborers digging a neat square; delicate rendering of plants and tools, architectural site markers in background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śarais tathākāśair → śaraiḥ tathā kāśaiḥ; dūrvābhiryā → dūrvābhiḥ yā; viprāṃś ca → viprān ca; khātapūrvantu → khāta-pūrvam tu. ‘śiḥśalpām’ is a difficult/uncertain padapāṭha; analyzed as a feminine accusative singular noun.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Śānti-kalpa and pūjā-vidhi sections (offerings, brāhmaṇa-bhojana, vighna-śānti); Agni Purāṇa: Vāstu chapters on śalyoddhāra and bhūmi-śuddhi (site purification)
FAQs
It prescribes specific ritual materials (kuśa, dūrvā, arrows, and an ākāśa-plant) for worship, followed by honoring brāhmaṇas and commencing a śānti-type rite with the preliminary act of digging the ritual spot/pit.
It exemplifies the text’s procedural cataloging of ritual technology—listing exact implements and sequential actions (offerings → brāhmaṇa-satkara → site preparation), typical of the Agni Purana’s practical, handbook-like coverage of dharma and rites.
Using sanctifying grasses and performing worship with proper preliminaries—especially honoring brāhmaṇas—supports purification, appeasement (śānti), and the reduction of ritual/ethical blemishes through correctly ordered observance.