Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
समीप उपशोभानां कोणास्तु परिकीर्तिताः चतुर्दिक्षु ततो द्वे द्वे चिन्तयेन्मध्यकोष्ठकैः उपशोभाञ्च नीलेन कोणशङ्ख्यांश् च वै सितान् भद्रके पूरणं प्रोक्तमेवमन्येषु पूरणं
samīpa upaśobhānāṃ koṇāstu parikīrtitāḥ caturdikṣu tato dve dve cintayenmadhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ upaśobhāñca nīlena koṇaśaṅkhyāṃś ca vai sitān bhadrake pūraṇaṃ proktamevamanyeṣu pūraṇaṃ
Die an die «upaśobhā»-Felder angrenzenden Ecken werden als Eckteilungen bezeichnet. In den vier Richtungen soll man sodann je zwei solche Teilungen zusammen mit den Zwischenfeldern vorstellen. Die upaśobhā-Fächer sind mit Blau zu füllen, die nach den Ecken gezählten Teilungen hingegen wahrlich mit Weiß. Die Füllweise für das «bhadraka» ist bereits dargelegt; ebenso ist die Füllung auch bei den anderen (Mustern) vorzunehmen.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Color-coding and placement rules for mandala/temple-grid compartments (koṣṭhaka) during ritual/architectural diagram preparation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Upaśobhā–koṇa-koṣṭhaka varṇa-pūraṇa (blue/white filling rule)","lookup_keywords":["upaśobhā","koṇa","koṣṭhaka","nīla","śveta"],"quick_summary":"Define corner-adjacent divisions around the upaśobhā cells, assign directional intermediate cells, and fill upaśobhā in blue while corner-numbered divisions are white; extend the same filling logic to other patterns."}
Concept: Ritual-visual order (krama) and auspicious differentiation through spatial and chromatic coding.
Application: Ensures consistent, tradition-compliant mandala rendering for worship/installation rites and architectural planning.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Temple/Maṇḍala Design and Color-Filling Rules)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square mandala grid with labeled upaśobhā compartments adjacent to corners; upaśobhā cells painted blue and corner-numbered divisions painted white, with intermediate directional cells indicated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, a ritual architect-priest drawing a square mandala on the floor, upaśobhā cells filled deep blue, corner divisions in white, clear grid lines, minimal background, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold work, central mandala grid on a wooden plank, blue upaśobhā panels and white corner panels highlighted with gold outlines, ornamental borders, temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram emphasis, clean linework of koṣṭhaka grid with annotations, blue fill for upaśobhā and white for corner divisions, muted palette, scholarly workshop mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature style, artisan and priest seated with pigments, precise geometric mandala on paper, blue and white compartment fills, fine borders and calligraphic labels, courtly atelier setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṇāstu = koṇāḥ + tu; upaśobhāñca = upaśobhān + ca; koṇaśaṅkhyāṃś ca = koṇaśaṅkhyān + ca; proktam evam = proktam + evam; evam anyeṣu = evam + anyeṣu; cintayen-madhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ normalized to cintayet madhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.17-29.20 (mandala/yantra coloration and measurements)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu/maṇḍala-vidhi instructions: how to classify corner-adjacent compartments and how to apply specific colors—blue for upaśobhā cells and white for the corner-designated divisions—within the bhadraka and related layouts.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical technical standards for ritual geometry and sacred design—compartment classification, directional subdivision, and prescribed color-filling—showing its coverage of applied arts like Vāstu and maṇḍala construction.
Correct maṇḍala layout and color-filling are treated as part of ritual accuracy (śuddhi and saṃskāra): properly executed sacred diagrams are believed to support auspiciousness (bhadra), order, and the intended efficacy of worship or consecration rites.