Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 36
Chapter 34 — होमादिविधिः
The Procedure for Homa and Related Rites
प्राच्यां शिरः समाख्यातं बाहू कोणे व्यवस्थितौ ईशानाग्नेयकोणे तु जङ्घे वायव्यनैरृते
prācyāṃ śiraḥ samākhyātaṃ bāhū koṇe vyavasthitau īśānāgneyakoṇe tu jaṅghe vāyavyanairṛte
东方被称为“头”。两臂安置于诸角隅；而在 Īśāna（东北）与 Āgneya（东南）两隅安置小腿（jāṅghā），在 Vāyavya（西北）与 Nairṛta（西南）两隅亦同样分配腿足之位。
Lord Agni (teaching the Agni Purana’s Vastu principles)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Provides directional body-mapping of the Vāstu-Puruṣa on a maṇḍala for planning room placement, structural loads, and ritual zoning in buildings/altars.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Directional limbs of the Vāstu-Puruṣa (head/arms/shanks)","lookup_keywords":["vāstu-puruṣa","maṇḍala-vinyāsa","prācī","īśāna-āgneya","vāyavya-nairṛta"],"quick_summary":"The verse assigns body parts of the Vāstu-Puruṣa to directions and corners, enabling correct maṇḍala layout. This mapping is used to decide placements and avoid doṣas in construction and consecration."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: the built space is aligned to a cosmic body, making architecture a disciplined sacred science.
Application: Apply during vāstu planning: draw the maṇḍala, mark directions/corners, and allocate functions/weights consistent with the Vāstu-Puruṣa mapping to reduce vāstu-doṣa.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Mandala-Vinyasa (Directional Body-Mapping of the Vastu-Purusha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square vāstu-maṇḍala on the ground with compass directions marked; the Vāstu-Puruṣa figure superimposed, head toward east, limbs extending into corners; an architect-priest points to corners while apprentices note placements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down maṇḍala with bold directional markers, Vāstu-Puruṣa drawn in stylized form across the grid, architect-priest with palm-leaf manuscript, earthy reds/greens and geometric borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate framed maṇḍala with gold accents on the grid lines, Vāstu-Puruṣa rendered as a divine figure across the plan, directional deities hinted at in corners, rich decorative motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style technical illustration: clean vāstu grid, labeled prācī/īśāna/āgneya/vāyavya/nairṛta, superimposed body-part labels (śiras, bāhū, jāṅghā), instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect’s workshop scene with a drawn site-plan on paper and on ground, scholars discussing directions, fine calligraphy labels, detailed instruments (measuring cord, compass), Vāstu-Puruṣa faintly painted over the grid."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ईशानाग्नेयकोणे = ईशान-आग्नेय-कोणे; वायव्यनैरृते = वायव्य-नैरृते (dvandva).
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu/maṇḍala chapters adjoining this passage; Agni Purana sections on kuṇḍa/maṇḍala construction for rituals
FAQs
It gives Vastu-vidya body-mapping: assigning the Vastu-Purusha’s limbs (head, arms, shanks/legs) to specific directions and corners, used when laying out buildings and ritual/temple plans.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied architectural science—directional zoning and mandala-based spatial planning—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical disciplines like Vastu-shastra alongside religious instruction.
Aligning construction with the Vastu-Purusha’s directional limb-placements is presented as harmonizing human activity with cosmic order, supporting auspiciousness, stability, and ritual purity in inhabited or consecrated space.