Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 308 — Worship of Tvaritā (त्वरितापूजा)
फट्कारी चाग्रतो देव्याः श्रीवीजेनार्चयेदिमाः लोकेशायुधवर्णास्ताः फट्कारी तु धनुर्धरा
phaṭkārī cāgrato devyāḥ śrīvījenārcayedimāḥ lokeśāyudhavarṇāstāḥ phaṭkārī tu dhanurdharā
Und vor der Göttin soll man diese (begleitenden Mächte) mit der Śrī-Bīja verehren. Man visualisiere sie in den Farbtönen der Waffen der Lokapālas; und Phaṭkārī ist die Bogenträgerin.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s ritual procedures to sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Worship of attendant śaktis before the Devī using Śrī-bīja; visualization of their colors as per Lokapāla weapon-hues; identifies Phaṭkārī as bow-bearing śakti.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrī-bīja Arcana of Attendant Śaktis; Phaṭkārī Dhanurdharā Visualization","lookup_keywords":["śrī-bīja","phaṭkārī","lokapāla-āyudha-varṇa","arcana","dhanurdharā"],"quick_summary":"Invoke and worship the front-facing attendant powers with the Śrī-bīja; visualize them in the hues associated with the guardians’ weapons, with Phaṭkārī specifically holding a bow."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Bīja-mantra (Śrī) as a compact power-seed; parivāra-śakti worship completes the deity’s functional mandala (protection, empowerment).
Application: In pūjā sequence, honor attendant powers with correct bīja and iconographic attributes to ‘seal’ the ritual field and support desired outcomes.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devi-upasana / Sri-vidya–tantric worship sequence)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Before the central Goddess stand attendant powers, each tinted with hues echoing the Lokapālas’ weapon-colors; Phaṭkārī is prominent holding a bow; the Śrī-bīja is inscribed or implied in the worship setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Devī with frontal attendant śaktis, each in distinct weapon-hues, Phaṭkārī holding bow, Śrī-bīja motif subtly placed, bold outlines and sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Devī with parivāra śaktis in front, gold-work on weapons and ornaments, Phaṭkārī with bow highlighted, Śrī-bīja on decorative panel, rich temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear arrangement diagram: Devī and front attendants, color swatches tied to lokapāla weapons, Phaṭkārī labeled with bow, neat composition for ritual reference","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly palette with attendants before the Goddess, nuanced color differentiation, Phaṭkārī with bow, fine calligraphy of Śrī-bīja on a banner or ritual tablet"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāgrato = च + अग्रतः. śrīvījenārcayet = श्रीबीजेन + अर्चयेत्. arcayedimāḥ = अर्चयेत् + इमाः. lokeśāyudhavarṇāstāḥ = लोकेशायुधवर्णाः + ताः. dhanurdharā = धनुः + धरा (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 308 (Śrī-vidyā style sequence; parivāra arcana)
FAQs
It prescribes a Devi-upasana step: worship of attendant Shaktis before the Goddess using the Śrī-bīja (śrīṃ), along with a specific dhyāna (visualization) of their weapon-associated colors; Phaṭkārī is identified as bow-bearing.
Beyond narrative Purana material, it records practical tantric liturgy—bīja-mantra usage, placement “in front of the Goddess,” iconographic identifiers (bow-bearing), and visualization rules tied to Lokapāla weapon symbolism—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of ritual technology.
Correct bīja-based worship and precise visualization are presented as ensuring ritual efficacy (siddhi) and purification, aligning the devotee’s mind with the Goddess’s retinue and protective cosmic order represented by the Lokapālas.