Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
द्वादशारे मण्डले तु लौकपालादिकं क्रमात् प्रतिमामर्चयेत् पश्चाद्गन्धपुष्पादिभिर्द्विजः
dvādaśāre maṇḍale tu laukapālādikaṃ kramāt pratimāmarcayet paścādgandhapuṣpādibhirdvijaḥ
Im zwölfspeichigen Maṇḍala soll der dvija (der „Zweimalgeborene“) der Reihe nach die Kultbilder verehren, beginnend mit den Lokapālas; danach bringe er Düfte, Blumen und dergleichen dar.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Maṇḍala-devatā arcana: worship of Lokapālas/dikpālas and related deities in a twelve-spoked diagram, then offer gandha-puṣpa etc.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśāra-maṇḍala worship of Lokapālas","lookup_keywords":["dvādaśāra maṇḍala","lokapāla","dikpāla pūjā","maṇḍala-devatā","gandha puṣpa"],"quick_summary":"In a twelve-spoked maṇḍala, worship the Lokapālas and associated deities in order, then complete offerings with fragrance and flowers."}
Concept: Space becomes ritually ordered through directional deities; geometry (maṇḍala) mirrors cosmic governance.
Application: Before major worship/homa, stabilize the ritual field by honoring dikpālas in correct directional order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala-devata-archana / Dikpala-puja)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twelve-spoked mandala on the ground with small icons at each spoke representing Lokapālas; a priest moves clockwise offering flowers and sandal paste to each.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down mandala depiction with bold concentric circles and twelve spokes, dikpālas in stylized forms at each direction, priest with flower basket moving clockwise","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central sanctified mandala with gold accents on spokes, miniature dikpāla figures around, priest offering garlands, rich ornamental border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labeled directions, twelve spokes, sequential worship steps shown in panels, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with a chalk mandala, finely detailed guardian figures at compass points, attendants holding incense and flower trays"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्वादशारे = द्वादश + अरे (dvigu); प्रतिमामर्चयेत् = प्रतिमाम् + अर्चयेत्; पश्चाद्गन्धपुष्पादिभिः = पश्चात् + गन्धपुष्पादिभिः; गन्धपुष्पादिभिर्द्विजः = गन्धपुष्पादिभिः + द्विजः (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 59 (maṇḍala-vidhi and dikpāla arcana)
FAQs
It prescribes a mandala-based worship protocol: in a twelve-spoked ritual diagram, the practitioner should worship the directional guardians (Lokapālas) and associated deities in a fixed sequence, then complete the rite with standard upacāras such as fragrance and flowers.
By documenting a precise, implementable ritual workflow (mandala structure, deity ordering, and offering set), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s catalog-like coverage of practical religious technologies alongside its broader teachings.
Sequential worship of Lokapālas within a consecrated mandala is intended to harmonize space and directions, remove obstacles, and make the subsequent worship efficacious—supporting purity, protection, and ritual merit (puṇya).
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