Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
पूर्वपश्चिमतो यत्नाल्लाञ्छयित्वा तु मध्यतः संस्थाप्य भ्रामितं कुण्डमर्धचन्द्रं भवेत् शुभं
pūrvapaścimato yatnāllāñchayitvā tu madhyataḥ saṃsthāpya bhrāmitaṃ kuṇḍamardhacandraṃ bhavet śubhaṃ
沿东西线细致标记之后，再安置于中心并按正向旋转/校正，则火坛坑（kuṇḍa）成为“半月”（ardha-candra）之形，为吉祥之制。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage, in the Agni Purana’s standard teaching frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Marking the east–west axis and centering to construct an auspicious ardha-candra (half-moon) shaped agni-kuṇḍa for pūjā/homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ardha-candra Kuṇḍa (Half-Moon) via East–West Marking","lookup_keywords":["ardha-candra kuṇḍa","pūrvapaścima-rekhā","madhya-sthāpana","lāñchana (marking)","śubha-kuṇḍa"],"quick_summary":"First establish the east–west baseline, then fix the center and set/turn the layout so the kuṇḍa becomes half-moon shaped—considered auspicious for ritual use."}
Concept: Śubhatva (auspiciousness) is cultivated through disciplined procedure and correct orientation.
Application: In ritual construction, begin with axis-marking and centering to ensure the intended sacred form (ardha-candra) is properly realized.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agni-kunda-nirmāṇa (Fire-altar construction and ritual layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A marked east–west line on the ground with a central point; artisans draw a half-moon outline for the kuṇḍa, showing careful measurement and symmetrical curvature.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yajña-śālā floor with bold east–west line, central bindu, half-moon kuṇḍa outline, priest supervising with palm-leaf manual, muted temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold highlights on the half-moon rim, priest and assistants marking east–west with a cord, central peg, auspicious motifs around the kuṇḍa boundary","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram feel: east–west baseline, center point, arc construction steps, half-moon kuṇḍa rendered with fine shading and tool details","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard scene with geometric drafting, east–west line emphasized, half-moon pit traced in ink-like precision, attendants holding measuring cord"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूर्वपश्चिमतो = पूर्व + पश्चिम + तः (द्वन्द्व + तसिल्); यत्नाल्लाञ्छयित्वा = यत्नात् + लाञ्छयित्वा; कुण्डमर्धचन्द्रम् = कुण्डम् + अर्धचन्द्रम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (shape-variants of kuṇḍa and their layout steps)
FAQs
It teaches the practical method for laying out a homa-kuṇḍa: mark the east–west alignment, establish the pit at the center, orient it correctly, and form it as an auspicious half-moon (ardhacandra) kunda.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual technology—precise spatial layout, geometry, and orientation of sacrificial installations—showing its coverage of procedural knowledge used in temple and domestic rites.
Correctly oriented and properly shaped kuṇḍas are regarded as śubha (auspicious), supporting ritual purity, effectiveness of offerings, and the intended merit (puṇya) of the homa.