Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 9
Chapter 39 — भूपरिग्रहविधानम्
Bhū-parigraha-vidhāna: Procedure for Acquiring and Ritually Securing Land
सर्वलक्षणहीणोपि स गुरुस्तन्त्रपारगः चैश्वरं तथेति ग, ङ, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः तथाष्टाङ्गमिति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः काश्मीरके स्थित इति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः नगराभिमुखाः स्थाप्या देवा न च पराङ्मुखाः
sarvalakṣaṇahīṇopi sa gurustantrapāragaḥ caiśvaraṃ tatheti ga, ṅa, gha, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ tathāṣṭāṅgamiti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ kāśmīrake sthita iti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ nagarābhimukhāḥ sthāpyā devā na ca parāṅmukhāḥ
即便缺少一切（外在）资质标记，若于密续（Tantra）通达无碍，亦当尊为上师。诸神像应安置为面向城邑（面向聚落与民众），不可背向而立。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple and deity-placement rule: install deities facing the settlement for public auspiciousness; also a criterion for recognizing a guru by tantric proficiency over external marks.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Deva-pratiṣṭhā Dik-nirdesha: Deities Facing the City","lookup_keywords":["deva-pratiṣṭhā","nagarābhimukha","parāṅmukha","vāstu","guru-lakṣaṇa","tantra-pāraga"],"quick_summary":"In installation, deities should face toward the city/inhabitants rather than away; and true guruhood is grounded in tantric mastery, not merely external qualifications."}
Concept: Śāstric competence and correct ritual-architectural alignment outweigh superficial markers; sacred power is mediated through proper orientation and lineage-knowledge.
Application: In temple planning, align the main icon so the approach and deity’s mukha address the populace; in choosing ritual leadership, prioritize demonstrated tantra-śāstra mastery.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Deva-pratiṣṭhā (Iconography and temple-placement rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple plan scene: the city on one side, the temple axis aligned so the main deity faces the settlement; priests and sthapati consult manuscripts while positioning the icon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized temple courtyard with the deity in sanctum facing outward toward a depicted townscape; sthapati with measuring cord, priests with lamps; bold outlines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: frontal deity in sanctum with gold embellishment, doorway opening toward a miniature city scene; priests performing pratiṣṭhā, rich reds and greens, heavy gold work on temple ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional diagram blended with narrative—ground plan, compass directions, arrow showing ‘nagarābhimukha’; fine brushwork, soft colors, labeled elements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: architectural cutaway of a temple with precise geometry; artisans and scholars discussing orientation; cityscape in background; delicate detailing and captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वलक्षणहीणोपि = सर्वलक्षणहीणः + अपि; गुरुस्तन्त्रपारगः = गुरुः + तन्त्रपारगः; पराङ्मुखाः (पराङ् + मुख). मध्यभागे ‘ग, ङ, घ…’ इत्यादि वर्ण-संकेताः पाठ-परम्परा/पुस्तक-चिह्ननिर्देशरूपाः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana vāstu/śilpa sections on temple orientation and pratiṣṭhā; Agni Purana ācārya-lakṣaṇa discussions in Pañcarātra/Tantra portions
FAQs
It gives a Deva-pratiṣṭhā/Vāstu rule: installed deities should face toward the inhabited settlement (nagarābhimukha), not away; and it prioritizes tantric competence as the key qualification for a guru.
It blends two practical domains—(1) ritual authority (who qualifies as a guru based on Tantra mastery) and (2) architectural-temple praxis (icon orientation in Vāstu/installation)—showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into applied religious technology.
Facing the deity toward the community symbolizes accessibility of divine grace and protective oversight; installing icons “turned away” is treated as ritually improper and is believed to diminish auspiciousness and the intended benefic results of worship.