Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 9
Chapter 264 — Dikpālādi-snāna
Bathing rites for the Dikpālas and associated deities
दक्षे वामे हरं पूर्वं पत्रे पूर्वादिके क्रमात् लिखेदिन्द्रादिकान्देवान् सायुधान् सहबान्धवान्
dakṣe vāme haraṃ pūrvaṃ patre pūrvādike kramāt likhedindrādikāndevān sāyudhān sahabāndhavān
ডানে ও বামে প্রথমে হর (শিব) লিখবে। তারপর পদ্মপত্রে পূর্ব দিক থেকে ক্রমানুসারে ইন্দ্র প্রভৃতি দেবতাদের তাঁদের অস্ত্রসহ এবং সহচর-পরিজনসহ অঙ্কিত করবে।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Yantra/mandala-lekhana: place Hara on right and left; inscribe dikpāla/devatā sequence on lotus petals from the east, each with weapons and retinues for complete directional protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-devatā placement on lotus-petals with Hara on flanks","lookup_keywords":["mandala-lekhana","Hara placement","Indrādi devāḥ","padma-patra","sāyudha"],"quick_summary":"In the mandala, mark Hara on both sides, then write Indra and the other directional gods on the lotus petals starting from the east, depicting them armed and accompanied by their attendants."}
Weapon Type: Divine weapons (āyudha) of dikpālas (e.g., vajra, pāśa, daṇḍa, gadā, etc., as per standard iconography)
Concept: Cosmic order (dik-krama) is ritually mirrored; protection and completeness arise from correct placement and visualization.
Application: When drawing/inscribing a mandala, follow directional order and include āyudha/parivāra to stabilize the rite and avoid omissions (doṣa) in devatā-nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mandala-Lekhana (iconographic diagram and deity-placement instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala being drawn: Hara inscribed on the right and left margins; on each lotus petal, beginning from the east, Indra and other gods appear armed, each with attendant figures behind them.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style; large lotus mandala filling the frame; Hara on both flanks; petals populated by Indra and dik-devatās with clear āyudha silhouettes; attendants in smaller scale; bold outlines and sacred symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold; central lotus with raised gold petal borders; each petal shows a dikpāla with weapon; Hara on side panels; rich reds/greens and ornate halos.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional diagram-meets-painting; labeled directions (pūrva, āgneya, etc.); sequential placement of Indrādi devāḥ on petals; fine linework emphasizing order and symmetry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; artist-scribe inscribing names on petals; gods appear as small vignettes on each petal with weapons; attendants clustered; architectural studio setting with pigments and brushes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लिखेदिन्द्रादिकान्देवान् = लिखेत् + इन्द्रादिकान् + देवान्; इन्द्रादिकान् = इन्द्र + आदिकान्; सायुधान् = स + आयुधान्; सहबान्धवान् = सह + बान्धवान्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: yantra/mandala-lekhana and dikpāla-arcana passages; Agni Purāṇa: devatā-nyāsa and rakṣā-vidhi sections
FAQs
It teaches mandala/yantra-lekhana: how to place Śiva (Hara) and then inscribe the directional devas (starting with Indra) on lotus-petals in correct order, explicitly depicting their weapons and attendant retinues.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—diagrammatic deity-mapping (directional sequencing, iconographic attributes, entourage depiction)—a hallmark of the Agni Purana’s broad, procedural coverage of ritual and temple practice.
Correct directional placement and iconographic completeness (weapons/retinues) is held to align the rite with cosmic order (dik-krama), minimizing ritual fault (doṣa) and strengthening the intended protective and merit-yielding (puṇya) effects of worship.