The Agni Purana

by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596

This page describes The characteristics of a site for Building (vastu-lakshana) which is chapter 247 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.

Chapter 247 - The characteristics of a site for Building (vāstu-lakṣaṇa)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Fire-god said:

1-3. I shall describe the characteristics of a building site [i.e., vāstu-lakṣaṇa] for the brahmins and others. They are white, red, yellow and black (soil) in order (for the four castes). A building site should have the smell of ghee, blood, cooked rice and wine in order (for the four castes). (They should also) taste sweet, pungent and acid and other secondary tastes in order. (The ground) should be cleared of kuśa, reeds, kāśa (a kind of grass) and dūrvā (a kind of grass having razor-like edges) after having dug out pieces of iron etc. and worshipped the brahmins.

4-9. Sixty-four squares should be made. Lord Brahmā (occupies) the four central squares. The presiding deity (of the two squares) on the east of those (squares) is said to be lord Aryamā. God Vivasvān is (on the two squares) on the south. God Mitra is (on the two squares) on the west. Gods worshipped on the angular points are:) God Mahīdhara (Pṛthvīdhara) is on (the two squares on) the north. Āpas and (Āpa) Vatsa are on the south-east. God Sāvitra, Savitā, Jaya and Indra (are respectively) on the south-west and west. God Rudra and (personification of) disease are on the north-west. (The gods worshipped) outside on the east and other directions from the angular squares are Mahendra, Satya and Śeṣa on the east. Gṛhakṣata, Aryaman[1], Dhṛti and Gandharva on the south, Puṣpadanta, Asura Varuṇa and Yajña[2] on the west and Bhallāṭa Soma, Aditi[3] and Dhanada on the north. Nāga is the lord on north-east. Similarly, the first and the last are said to be the lords in each one of the eight directions.

10-15. Parjanya is the first god. The second one is Karagraha. (The other gods are) Mahendra, Ravi, Satya, Bhṛśa and Gagana. Pavana (should be worshipped) in the east, (gods) Antarīkṣa and Dhaneśvara in the south-east and the celestials Mṛga and Sugrīvaka in the south-west. Roga and Mukhya (should be worshipped) in the north-west, Puṣpa, Kubera as well as Gṛhakṣata, Varna, Bhṛśa, Gandharva and Nāgapaitṛka on the south, Dauvārika, Sugrīva, Puṣpadanta, the demon, the (presiding deity of) water (should be worshipped) in the west. The pulmonary disease that emaciates (men) and Nāgarāja (the king of the serpents) (should be worshipped in the north). (The gods) Mukhya, Bhallāṭa, Moon, Aditi, Kubera, Nāga, Fire (god), the excellent Indra and Sun (god) (should be worshipped) in the east. Gṛhakṣata and Puṣpa (are worshipped) in the south, the outstanding Sugrīva in the west and Puṣpadanta and Bhallāṭa at the northern door.

16-23. A stoneslab or a brick should be laid on the ground and worshipped with the mystic syllables (as follows) and the celestials should be worshipped. O Daughter of (the sage) Vasiṣṭha! Gladden us with wealth and progeny. O Victorious one! Heir of sage Bhargava (Paraśurāma)! Bring victory to the progeny. O Heir of (sage) Aṅgirasa! The Satisfied one! Fulfil my desires. O Auspicious one! Heir of sage Kāśyapa! Make my mind good. O One endowed with all seeds! One surrounded by all gems and herbs! O Bright one! Rejoicing one! Daughter of (sage) Vasiṣṭha! Be pleased here. O Daughter of Prajāpati! Goddess on the quadrangle on the earth. O Goddess of Good fortune and Good demeanour! Auspicious one! Daughter of (sage) Kāśyapa! Be pleased in (this house). O One worshipped by great masters and adorned with incense and flowers! O Goddess that makes one get prosperous! O Daughter of (sage) Bhārgava! May you be pleased in this house. One not mutilated! Unbroken one! Complete one! Daughter of the sage Aṅgirasa! I establish you on this brick. Confer on me the desired (things). One that is held by sovereigns, chieftains and owners of houses! May you be one that increases the progeny, wealth, elephants, horses and cows. (A brick or) stone should similarly be laid at the entrance to the house (for the first time).

24-31. A plakṣa tree would be auspicious on the north and the vaṭa (tree) on the east of the house. Udumbara on the south and the aśvattha on the west are excellent. A garden should be laid on the left (of the house). Dwelling in such a house is good. The trees planted and grown should be watered morning and evening in the summer, alternate days in the winter and each night in the rainy season if the ground gets dried. They should be sprinkled with cold water mixed with the paste of vidaṅga (a medicinal herb used as a vermifuge). If the fruits get destroyed, (the trees should be sprinkled with water mixed) with (the paste of) horse-beans, black-gram, green gram, sesamum and barley. Sprinkling of cold water together with ghee is always (beneficial) for (the trees bearing) fruits and flowers. Sprinkling water with fish makes the trees grow. The powdered excrement of the sheep and goat (mixed with) the powdered barley and sesamum, beef and water should be buried in the ground for seven nights and then sprinkling that would make all the trees bear fruits and flowers abundantly. Sprinkling mango trees with cold water mixed with fish is commended. The gentle kick of the aśoka (tree) by women with their feet is also commended. Date palms, coconut and other trees grow well by (adding) salt. Sprinkling with water mixed with vidaṅga (herb) and fish would be beneficial for all trees.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Yama and Bhṛṅgarāja in other texts.

[2]:

Śeṣa in other texts.

[3]:

Caraka, in other texts.

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