Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 41
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
तदेव सर्वतोभद्रं त्रिविधं सरसीरुहं चतुष्पत्रं ततो विघ्नं चतुष्पत्रे उभे अपि
tadeva sarvatobhadraṃ trividhaṃ sarasīruhaṃ catuṣpatraṃ tato vighnaṃ catuṣpatre ubhe api
ذلك الرسم بعينه هو «سرفاتوبهادرا»؛ ومخطط اللوتس (sarasīruha) ثلاثةُ أنواع. ثم يأتي اللوتس ذو الأربع بتلات، وبعده مخطط «فيغنا» الدافع للعوائق؛ وكلاهما يُرسَم على هيئة أربع بتلات.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing protective yantras/lotus-maṇḍalas for pūjā, āvaraṇa-nyāsa, and vighna-śānti by selecting the correct lotus type and petal-count.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sarvatobhadra and Lotus-Maṇḍala Types (Tri-vidha Sarasīruha; Catuṣpatra; Vighna-catuṣpatra)","lookup_keywords":["sarvatobhadra","sarasīruha","catuṣpatra","vighna-yantra","maṇḍala-bheda"],"quick_summary":"Classifies common protective diagrams: the sarvatobhadra and lotus-maṇḍalas, noting a threefold lotus-type and specifying that both the catuṣpatra lotus and vighna-warding diagram are four-petalled."}
Concept: Ritual order (krama) and correct form (ākṛti) are themselves upāya for removing obstacles (vighna).
Application: Before mantra-japa or homa, choose the prescribed maṇḍala-type and petal-count to align the rite with its intended protective function.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mandala (Protective diagrams and lotus-maṇḍalas)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual floor-diagram showing a sarvatobhadra grid beside lotus-maṇḍalas: a tri-typed lotus schema, then a clear four-petalled lotus and a vighna-warding four-petalled diagram, drawn with clean lines and labeled petals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, ochre-red ground, priest drawing a white kolam-like sarvatobhadra and a four-petalled lotus-maṇḍala, minimal shading, sacred geometry emphasized, traditional lamps and pūjā vessels nearby.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf accents highlighting the lotus petals and central bindu, a pūjā altar with kalasha and flowers, the sarvatobhadra and catuṣpatra diagrams rendered as ornate sacred geometry with embossed gold outlines.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: two panels showing sarvatobhadra and catuṣpatra/vighna-catuṣpatra, fine linework, soft colors, small Sanskrit labels on petals, calm workshop-like ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a scholar-priest in a pavilion demonstrating geometric diagrams on a floor cloth, precise grid sarvatobhadra and four-petalled lotus forms, delicate borders, calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदेव = तत् + एव; सर्वतोभद्रं is अव्ययीभाव (सर्वतः + भद्र); चतुष्पत्रे is loc.sg of द्विगु compound; उभे अपि kept separate (no sandhi applied).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (yantra-maṇḍala and pūjā-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana sections on mantra-nyāsa and āvaraṇa-devatā placement (yantra context)
FAQs
It classifies ritual maṇḍalas/yantras: the Sarvatobhadra, a threefold lotus (sarasīruha), and specifies that the next two forms—(a) the four-petalled lotus and (b) the Vighna-warding design—are to be made as four-petalled layouts.
Alongside theology and myths, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical ritual-technology: named diagram systems (Sarvatobhadra, lotus-maṇḍalas) with formal specifications (like petal-count), showing its compendium-style coverage of applied liturgy and protective rites.
Correctly constructing auspicious and obstacle-removing (vighna-nivāraṇa) diagrams is presented as a means to secure ritual success, protection, and the unobstructed fruition of worship and vows.