Agni Purana

शोभनास्तिथयः शषाः क्रूरवारविवर्जिताः। शतभिषा धनिष्ठाद्‌र्द्रा अनुराधोत्तरत्रयं

Auspicious lunar days are the sixth, free from cruel weekdays; the nakṣatras Śatabhiṣaj, Dhaniṣṭhā, Ardra, Anurādhā, and the three Uttaras.

रोहिणी श्रवणश्चेति स्थिरारम्भे महोदयाः। लग्नञ्च कुम्भसिहालितुलास्त्रीवृषधन्विनां

Rohiṇī and Śravaṇa are also auspicious for firm beginnings; the ascendant should be Aquarius, Leo, Libra, Taurus, Sagittarius, or their trines.

शस्तो जीवो नवर्क्षेषु सप्तस्थानेषु सर्वदा। बुधः षडष्टदिक्‌सप्ततुर्येषु विनर्तुं शितः

Jīva (Jupiter) is favorable in the nine signs and in the seventh place at all times; Mercury is auspicious in the sixth, eighth, tenth, and seventh places, and Saturn is beneficial when not afflicted.

सप्तर्त्तु त्रिदशादिस्थः शशाङ्को बलदः सदा । सविर्दशत्रिषट्संस्थो राहुस्त्रिदशषङ्गतः

The Moon, when in the seventh sign from the ascendant or with the gods, always gives strength; Rāhu, when in the tenth, third, or sixth, and with the gods, is also favorable.

षट्त्रिस्थानगताः शस्ता मन्दाङ्गारार्ककेतवः। शुभाः क्रूराश्च पापाश्च सर्व एकादशस्थिताः

Saturn, Mars, Sun, and comets are auspicious when in the sixth, third, or eleventh places; all planets, whether benefic, cruel, or malefic, are auspicious when in the eleventh.

एषां दृष्टिर्मुनौ पूर्णा त्वार्द्धिकी ग्रहभूतयोः। पादिकी रामदिक्‌स्थाने चतुरष्टौ पादवर्जिताः

Their aspect is complete in the ascendant, half in the case of planets, and a quarter in the fourth and eighth places, except for the fourth and eighth padas.

पादान्यूनचतुर्नाडी भोगः स्यान्मीनमेषयोः। वृषकुम्भौ च भुञ्जाते चतस्रः पादवर्जिताः

If the four quarters are lacking by a quarter nāḍī, enjoyment occurs in Pisces and Aries; in Taurus and Aquarius, four quarters are omitted.

मकरो मिथुनं पञ्च चापालिहरिकर्क्कटाः। पादोनाः षट्तुलाकन्ये घटिकाः सार्द्धपञ्च च

Capricorn, Gemini, five (signs), Sagittarius, Libra, Cancer, and Leo; in Libra and Virgo, six quarters are lacking, and in the ghāṭikā, five and a half.

केशरीवृषभः कुम्भ स्थिराः स्युः सिद्धिदायकाः। चरा धनुस्तुलामेषा द्विः स्वभावास्तुतृतीयकाः

Leo, Taurus, and Aquarius are stable and bestow success; Sagittarius, Libra, and Aries are movable, and the third of each is of dual nature.

शुभः शुभग्रहैर्दृष्टः शस्तो लग्नः शुभाश्रितः । गुरुशुक्रबुधैर्युक्तो लग्नो दद्याद्‌बलायुषी

An auspicious ascendant, seen with benefic planets and supported by auspicious influences, when joined by Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury, grants strength and long life.

राज्यं शौर्य्यं बलं पुत्रान् यशोधर्म्मादिकं बहु। प्रथमः सप्तमस्तुर्य्यो दशमः केन्द्र उच्यते

Sovereignty, valor, power, sons, fame, virtue, and the like are many; the first, seventh, fourth, and tenth are called the angles.

गुरुशुक्रबुधास्तत्र सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकाः। त्रयेकादशचतुर्थस्था लग्नात् पापग्रहाः शुभाः

There, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury are givers of all accomplishments; malefic planets in the third, eleventh, or fourth from the ascendant become auspicious.

अतोप्यनीचकर्मार्थं योज्यास्तिथ्यादयो बुधैः। धाम्नः पञ्चगुणां भूमिं त्यक्त्वा वा धानसम्मितां

Moreover, for actions not related to exaltation, the wise should employ tithis and the like, abandoning the fivefold measure of the site or considering it as wealth.

हस्ताद् द्वादशसोपानात् कुर्य्यान्मण्डपमग्रतः। चतुरस्रं चतुर्द्वारं स्नानार्थन्तु तदर्द्धतः

From the hand, at a distance of twelve steps, one should construct the pavilion in front; it should be square, with four doors, and for bathing purposes, half that size.

एकास्यं चतुरास्यं वा रौद्र्यां प्राच्युत्तरेथवा । हास्तिको दशहस्तो वै मण्डपोर्ककरोऽथवा

It may have one or four faces, or be fierce, facing east or north; the elephantine one is ten hands, or the pavilion may be constructed accordingly.

द्विहस्तोत्तरया वृद्ध्या शेष स्यान्मण्डपाष्टकं। वेदी चतुष्करा मध्ये कोणस्तम्भेन संयुता

With an increase of two hands to the north, the rest should be eight pavilions; the altar is four-sided in the middle, joined with a corner pillar.

वेदीपादान्तरं त्यक्त्वा कुण्डानि नव पञ्च वा। एकं वा शिवकाष्ठायां प्राच्यां वा तद्‌गुरोः परं

Leaving space between the altar's feet, there should be nine or five fire-pits, or one, on a wooden platform for Shiva, or to the east, or as the teacher prescribes.

मुष्टिमात्रं शतार्द्धे स्याच्छते चारत्निमात्रकं । हस्तं सहस्रहोमे स्यान्नियुते तु द्विहास्तिकं

It should be a fist in size for a hundred and fifty, and for a hundred, the measure of a finger; for a thousand offerings, a hand, and for ten thousand, two hands.

लक्षे चतुष्करं कुण्डंकोटिहोमेऽष्टहस्तकं। भगाभमग्नौ खण्डेन्दु दक्षे त्र्यस्रञ्च नैर्ऋते

For a hundred thousand, the fire-pit is four-sided; for a crore of offerings, eight hands; in the east, crescent-shaped like the moon, in the south, triangular.

षडस्रं वायवे पद्म सौम्ये चाष्टास्रकं शिवे। तिर्य्यक्पातशिवं खातमूद्‌र्ध्वं मेखलया सह

Six-sided in the west, lotus-shaped in the north, eight-sided for Shiva; the pit for Shiva is dug obliquely, with a raised embankment.

तद्वहिर्म्मेखलास्तिस्रो वेदवह्नियमाङ्गुलै । अङ्गुलैः षड्‌भिरेका वा कुण्डाकारास्तु मेखलाः

Outside that, there are three embankments, each the width of a finger for the Vedic fire; each embankment is six fingers wide, or one, and shaped like the fire-pit.

तासामुपरि योनिः स्यान्मध्येऽश्वत्थदलाकृतिः। उच्छ्रायेणाङ्गुलं तस्मादिविस्तारेणाङ्गुलाष्टकं

Above these, the yoni should be placed, in the center shaped like a peepal leaf; its height is one finger, and its width is eight fingers.

दैर्घ्यं कुण्डार्द्धमानेन कुण्डकण्ठसमोऽधरः। पूर्वाग्नियाम्यकुण्डानां योनिः स्यादुत्तरानना

The length is half the measure of the fire-pit, and the base is equal to the neck of the pit; for the eastern, southern, and southwestern fire-pits, the yoni faces north.

पूर्वानना तु शेषाणामैशान्येऽन्यतरा तयोः। कुण्डानां यश्चतुर्विंशो बागः सोङ्गुल इत्यतः

For the others, the face is east, or for those two, northeast; the twenty-fourth part of the fire-pit is called a finger.

प्लक्षोदुम्बरकाश्वत्थवटजास्तोरणाः क्रमात्। शान्तिभूतिबलारोग्यपूर्वाद्या नामतः क्रमात्

Plaksha, udumbara, ashvattha, and banyan are the gateways in order; peace, spirit, strength, health, and the rest are their names in sequence.

पञ्चषट्‌सप्तहस्तानि हस्तकातस्थितानि च। तदर्द्धविस्तराणि स्युर्युतान्याम्रदलादिभिः

Five, six, or seven hands in length, placed at a hand's distance; their width is half, adorned with mango leaves and the like.

इन्द्रायुधोपमा रक्ता कृष्णा धूम्रा शशिप्रभा। शुक्लाभा हेमवर्णा च पताका स्फाटिकोपमा

Resembling Indra's bow, red, black, smoky, shining like the moon, white, golden, and crystal-like are the banners.

पूर्वादितोब्जजे रक्ता नीलाऽन्न्तस्य नैर्ऋते। पञ्चहस्तास्तदर्द्धाञ्च ध्वजा दीर्घाश्च विस्तराः

From the east, flags are red; from the south, they are blue, belonging to Nirṛti. Their length is five hands, and half that in width; the flags are long and broad.

हस्तप्रदेशिता दण्डा ध्वजानां पञ्चहस्तकाः। वल्मीकाद्दन्तिदन्ताग्रात्तथा वृषभश्रृङ्गतः

The staffs of the flags are indicated by the hand, and are five hands in length; they may be taken from an anthill, the tip of an elephant’s tusk, or the horn of a bull.