Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 2
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
सूत्रेण सूत्रयित्वा तु क्षेत्रं तावत् खनेत्समं खातस्य मेखला कार्या त्यक्त्वा चैवाङ्गुलद्वयं
sūtreṇa sūtrayitvā tu kṣetraṃ tāvat khanetsamaṃ khātasya mekhalā kāryā tyaktvā caivāṅguladvayaṃ
以绳墨（sūtra）量定其地之后，当平整而均匀地掘土。于所掘之处周围，应作环形隆起之缘带（mekhalā），并留出二指宽的边距。
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vashistha, Agni Purana’s primary teaching frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ground layout and excavation protocol for a ritual site: using a measuring cord, excavating evenly, and forming a mekhalā (raised rim) with a two-aṅgula margin to stabilize and demarcate the kuṇḍa/vedi area.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣetra-sūtrana and Khana: Even Excavation with Mekhalā and Two-Aṅgula Margin","lookup_keywords":["sūtra","kṣetra-nirmāṇa","khana","mekhalā","aṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Mark the ritual ground with a cord, excavate evenly, and build a surrounding raised band (mekhalā), leaving a two-fingerbreadth margin—ensuring clean boundaries and structural integrity for the rite."}
Concept: Ritual space becomes sacred through correct demarcation (sīmā) and preparation (saṃskāra).
Application: Use cord-based measurement and uniform excavation to avoid asymmetry and leakage/instability; the mekhalā functions as both boundary and reinforcement.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Kshetra-nirmana (Ritual ground-marking and excavation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual assistants stretch a measuring cord to mark the square, then excavate the soil evenly; a neat raised rim (mekhalā) surrounds the pit with a visible two-aṅgula margin left uncut.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisans and priest marking ground with a taut cord, shallow excavation shown with clean edges, a raised mekhalā ring, earthy palette and bold outlines emphasizing process.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, foreground shows cord-measurement and a pristine excavated square with gold-highlighted mekhalā border, ritual purity motifs, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional scene: (1) cord layout, (2) even excavation, (3) mekhalā formation with ‘2 aṅgula’ margin labeled; precise lines and gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workers using cord and small tools, carefully leveled excavation, rim built around, fine texture of soil and instruments, annotated margin indicating two-aṅgula spacing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खनेत्समं = खनेत् समम्; चैवाङ्गुलद्वयं = च एव अङ्गुल-द्वयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (continued kuṇḍa/vedi construction steps and measurements)
FAQs
It teaches Vastu/ritual-ground technique: mark the kṣetra with a measuring cord, excavate it level, and form a surrounding rim (mekhalā) while maintaining a two-aṅgula margin.
By preserving practical engineering-style instructions—measurement, leveling, margins, and boundary formation—alongside theology, it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied Vastu and ritual construction methods.
Correct measurement and orderly preparation of the ritual site are treated as prerequisites for purity and efficacy of rites; precision in layout is understood to support auspiciousness and the successful fruition of worship and offerings.