Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 8
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
दलसन्ध्यन्तरालन्तु मानं मध्ये निधाय तु दलाग्रं भ्रामयेत्तेन तदग्रं तदनन्तरं वासुदेवादिमूर्तीञ्च तथा चैव दशत्मकं मनः श्रोत्रं त्वचं प्रार्च्य चक्षुश् च रसनं तथा
dalasandhyantarālantu mānaṃ madhye nidhāya tu dalāgraṃ bhrāmayettena tadagraṃ tadanantaraṃ vāsudevādimūrtīñca tathā caiva daśatmakaṃ manaḥ śrotraṃ tvacaṃ prārcya cakṣuś ca rasanaṃ tathā
بوضع نقطة القياس (māna) في وسط الفراغ بين مواضع التقاء البتلات، ثم يُدار ذلك إلى طرف بتلة؛ ومن ذلك الطرف مباشرةً تُعبد الصور الإلهية التي تبدأ بڤاسوديفا (Vāsudeva). وكذلك تُعبد مجموعة «العشرة» على الوجه اللائق: الذهن، والسمع، والجلد (اللمس)، وكذلك العين واللسان (الذوق).
Lord Agni (instructing the ritual procedure to the seer—Agni Purana’s primary dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Murti-nyāsa and indriya-nyāsa within a lotus maṇḍala: using a central measure-point to rotate to petal tips, then worshipping Vāsudeva and related forms, followed by the tenfold set including mind and sense-faculties.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Māna-bhramaṇa to dalāgra and Vāsudevādi-mūrti + daśātmakendriya-arcana","lookup_keywords":["māna","bhramaṇa","Vāsudeva","indriya-nyāsa","daśātmakam"],"quick_summary":"From the measured center between petal-junctions, rotate the placement to each petal-tip and worship Vāsudeva and associated forms; then worship the tenfold complex including mind and the sensory faculties (hearing, touch/skin, sight, taste)."}
Concept: The senses and mind are treated as a structured ‘daśātmakam’ to be purified and sacralized through worship, aligning embodied cognition with Vāsudeva-centered theology.
Application: Use indriya-nyāsa as a preparatory discipline: mentally place and offer to each faculty to reduce distraction and stabilize mantra-japa/dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-nyasa and Indriya-nyasa (Tantric-style ritual placement and worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus maṇḍala with a central measuring point; the ritualist rotates the measure to a petal-tip, then places/worships Vāsudeva and allied forms at successive tips; nearby are labeled the faculties: manas, śrotra, tvac, cakṣus, rasana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Vāsudeva depicted in stylized form presiding over a lotus diagram, priest indicating rotation from center to petal-tip, petals labeled with indriyas, deep earthy palette and temple lamp glow.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Vāsudeva central with gold halo, lotus maṇḍala beneath with gilded petal edges, inscriptions for manas and senses, priest in reverent posture, ornate gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean geometric lotus with a marked center-point and arrows showing rotation to petal tips; small icon-panels of Vāsudeva forms at tips; labels for śrotra/tvac/cakṣus/rasana; instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly interior where a learned priest demonstrates a lotus diagram with compass-like tool, small Vishnu/Vāsudeva figures at petal tips, calligraphic labels for senses, fine detailing and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dalasandhyantarālantu → dala-sandhi-antarālam + tu; bhrāmayettena → bhrāmayet + tena; vāsudevādimūrtīñca → vāsudeva-ādi-mūrtīn + ca; caiva → ca + eva; prārcya is read as pra-arcya (ktvānt).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (Vāsudevādi placements and subsequent āvaraṇas)
FAQs
It teaches a precise nyāsa/arcana sequence: using a measured placement point across lotus-petal junctions, moving to the petal-tip, then worshipping Vāsudeva and associated forms, followed by worship of the internal faculties (mind and senses) as a structured set.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual technology—measurement, spatial sequencing on a lotus/yantra-like layout, and psycho-physical worship (indriya-pūjā). This is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s compendium style spanning mantra, icon/diagram procedure, and inner-discipline.
By worshipping the deity-forms and then consecrating the senses and mind, the practitioner ritually purifies perception and intention, aligning embodied faculties with devotion—supporting steadiness in worship and reducing karmic impurity arising from uncontrolled senses.