Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 36
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
वीथीका हस्तमात्रन्तु स्वस्तिकैर् वहुभिर्वृता तद्वदुपकण्ठयुतानीति ख , ञ च हस्तमात्राणि द्वाराणि विक्षु वृत्तं सपद्मकम्
vīthīkā hastamātrantu svastikair vahubhirvṛtā tadvadupakaṇṭhayutānīti kha , ña ca hastamātrāṇi dvārāṇi vikṣu vṛttaṃ sapadmakam
走廊（vīthikā）之宽仅应为一肘（hasta），其边缘以众多卍相（svastika）纹样环饰。又名为 kha 与 ña 的两式，应作带有侧向突出的“副喉”（upakaṇṭha）。门道亦当以一肘为度；并于标杆（vikṣu）上绘圆形坛图，兼绘莲华（padma）。
Lord Agni (teaching Vāstu principles to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple planning: fixing corridor and doorway widths, and prescribing auspicious decorative/diagrammatic markings for layout control.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vīthikā-pramāṇa, dvāra-māna, svastika-bhūṣaṇa and padma-vṛtta rekhā","lookup_keywords":["vīthikā","hasta-māna","svastika","dvāra-pramāṇa","padma-maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"Set the corridor and door width to one hasta; ornament borders with repeated svastikas, and mark out a circular padma-diagram on the layout rods/markers for accurate and auspicious planning."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by correct measure (māna) and auspicious marking (maṅgala-cihna) in sacred construction.
Application: Use standardized modules (hasta) and auspicious diagrams to align craft practice with sacred intent.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Temple architecture, maṇḍala design, measurements and decorative motifs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple architect lays out a corridor and doorway with one-hasta measure, drawing repeated svastikas along the border and a circular lotus diagram on measuring rods/ground plan.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, warm earthy palette, sthapati with palm-leaf manual and measuring rod, corridor plan on floor, repeated svastika border motifs, circular padma diagram, stylized architectural lines, flat yet ornate composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sthapati and assistants measuring a vīthikā and dvāra with one-hasta scale, heavy gold leaf highlighting svastika border and lotus-in-circle diagram, rich reds and greens, temple backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework showing technical layout: one-hasta corridor and door, svastika border pattern, circular padma diagram on vikṣu rods, labeled architectural elements, muted elegant colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop scene: architect with measuring tools, ground plan with svastika border and lotus circle, fine architectural rendering, delicate borders, naturalistic figures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hastamātrantu = hasta-mātram tu; svastikair vahubhir = svastikaiḥ bahubhiḥ; tadvadupakaṇṭhayutānīti = tadvat upakaṇṭha-yutāni iti; sapadmakam = sa-padmakam; vikṣu read as dikṣu (orthographic/variant).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu-Śāstra sections on māna-pramāṇa and maṇḍala-vinyāsa (same khanda context)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu-vidyā specifications: corridor and doorway measures (one hasta) and the prescribed use of auspicious motifs like svastika and lotus in architectural marking/design.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical architectural standards—units of measure, named design-types (kha/ña), and symbolic floor/threshold diagrams—showing the text’s coverage of applied sciences like Vāstu.
Using auspicious symbols (svastika, lotus) and correct proportions is traditionally held to invite śubha (well-being) and protect the dwelling/temple space from inauspicious influences.