Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 19
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
एवं षोडशकोष्ठं स्यादेवमन्यत्तु मण्डलम् द्विषट्कभागे षट्त्रिंशत्पदं पद्मन्तु वीथिका शालिपिष्टादि शुक्लं स्याद्रक्तं कौसुम्भकादिकम् हरिद्रया च हारिद्रं कृष्णं स्याद्दग्धधान्यतः
evaṃ ṣoḍaśakoṣṭhaṃ syādevamanyattu maṇḍalam dviṣaṭkabhāge ṣaṭtriṃśatpadaṃ padmantu vīthikā śālipiṣṭādi śuklaṃ syādraktaṃ kausumbhakādikam haridrayā ca hāridraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ syāddagdhadhānyataḥ
وهكذا يكون الماندالا ذا ستةَ عشرَ خانة، وكذلك توجد ماندالاتٌ أخرى. وإذا قُسِّم إلى ضعفي ستة أجزاء نتجت شبكةُ الستة والثلاثين مربعًا؛ وأمّا رسم اللوتس فهو «فيثيكا» (ترتيب المسار/الممر). ويُصنَع الأبيض من دقيق الأرز وما شابهه؛ والأحمر من العصفر (safflower) ونحوه؛ والأصفر من الكركم؛ والأسود من الحبوب المحروقة.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Construct mandala grids (16-cell, 36-pada) and prepare traditional pigments from readily available substances for ritual floor-drawing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśa-koṣṭha & ṣaṭtriṃśat-pada maṇḍala; varṇa-dravya (pigment sources)","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśa-koṣṭha","ṣaṭtriṃśat-pada","śāli-piṣṭa","kāsumbha","haridrā"],"quick_summary":"Defines common mandala grids (16 compartments and 36 squares) and gives practical pigment sources: rice-flour for white, safflower for red, turmeric for yellow, and burnt grain for black."}
Concept: Sacred geometry (pada-vibhāga) is operationalized through accessible material culture (natural pigments).
Application: Enables correct mandala construction and coloration without specialized resources, supporting domestic and temple rites.
Khanda Section: Vastu / Mandala-Lakshana (Temple & iconographic diagramming; ritual design-grids)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two mandala diagrams side-by-side: a 4x4 sixteen-compartment grid and a 6x6 thirty-six-square grid; bowls of rice flour (white), safflower dye (red), turmeric (yellow), and burnt grain powder (black) shown as pigment sources.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan preparing natural pigments—white rice flour, red safflower, yellow turmeric, black burnt grain—beside a 16-cell and 36-cell mandala grid drawn on the floor, earthy temple interior","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, mandala grids framed with gold borders, pigment bowls rendered richly, white/red/yellow/black powders gleaming with gold highlights, devotional workshop setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional chart showing 16-compartment and 36-square grids with labels, and a neat panel listing pigment sources (rice flour, safflower, turmeric, burnt grain), soft colors and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with geometric grids on paper, small labeled pigment dishes (white rice flour, red safflower, yellow turmeric, black burnt grain), fine detailing and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādevamanyattu = syāt + evam + anyat + tu; padmantu = padmam + tu; syādraktaṃ = syāt + raktam; syāddagdhadhānyataḥ = syāt + dagdha-dhānyataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.16-29.18 (color placement rules); Agni Purana 29.20 (mandala measurements and japa counts)
FAQs
It specifies mandala/pada-grid types (16-cell and 36-cell layouts, including the padma-vīthikā arrangement) and prescribes practical pigment sources for drawing them: rice flour for white, safflower for red, turmeric for yellow, and charred grain for black.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied technical knowledge used in temple-ritual practice—diagram geometry (pada divisions) and material science (natural dyes/pigments), showing the Purana functioning as a handbook for ritual arts and built-space traditions.
Correctly constructed and properly colored mandalas are treated as prerequisites for orderly worship (āvaraṇa/nyāsa and pūjā), supporting ritual purity and the intended efficacy (siddhi) of the rite by aligning form, measure, and substance.