Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 22
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
वृषो वृषधरो वीर्यो ग्रसनः सर्वतोमुखः लोहितश् चैव विज्ञेया दश रुद्राः फणिस्थिताः
vṛṣo vṛṣadharo vīryo grasanaḥ sarvatomukhaḥ lohitaś caiva vijñeyā daśa rudrāḥ phaṇisthitāḥ
Wisset, dass dies die zehn Rudras sind, die auf der Schlange (Śeṣa) stationiert sind: Vṛṣa, Vṛṣadhara, Vīrya, Grasana, Sarvatomukha und Lohita.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Recite/visualize the ten Rudras as cosmic stabilizers stationed on Śeṣa; supports meditative mapping of Rudra powers and protective invocation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daśa Rudrāḥ on Śeṣa: Vṛṣa–Vṛṣadhara–Vīrya–Grasana–Sarvatomukha–Lohita","lookup_keywords":["Daśa Rudra","Śeṣa","Sarvatomukha","Lohita","Vṛṣadhara"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates Rudra-forms positioned upon the cosmic serpent Śeṣa; useful as a cosmological roster and as a visualization set in Shaiva worship."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (garland of names)
Concept: Multiplicity of Rudra powers within one cosmic order; dissolution/protection functions distributed as named aspects.
Application: Dhyāna practice: contemplate each epithet as a function—vīrya (power), grasana (reabsorption), sarvatomukha (all-pervasive awareness)—to internalize cosmic processes as inner disciplines.
Khanda Section: Rudra-Nama-Varnana (Shaiva cosmology and deity epithets)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Cosmic locus
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The cosmic serpent Śeṣa with multiple hoods, upon which stand or emanate Rudra forms—some red (Lohita), one multi-faced (Sarvatomukha), one with bull emblem (Vṛṣadhara)—arranged as a tenfold array.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Ananta/Śeṣa spanning the base with many hoods, ten Rudra figures above in a rhythmic row, Sarvatomukha multi-faced central figure, Lohita in red tones, bold outlines and sacred geometry balance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Śeṣa with gold-highlighted hood patterns, ten Rudras with ornate crowns and halos, Lohita rendered with red body and gold accents, Sarvatomukha multi-faced with symmetrical gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional clarity—label-like arrangement of Rudra forms on Śeṣa, careful depiction of multi-face iconography and color-coding (Lohita red), fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: cosmic tableau with Śeṣa coiled over a dark ocean, ten Rudras standing on the serpent, Sarvatomukha shown with multiple faces in profile layering, Lohita as a red-hued figure, delicate shading and ornate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोहितश् चैव → lohitaḥ ca eva (ः + च → श्च/श् च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (Rudra-nāma-varṇana)
FAQs
It transmits Rudra-nāma-vidyā: a canonical list of Rudra epithets used for identification, remembrance, and devotional recitation (nāma-japa/stotra contexts).
By cataloging deity-names and cosmological placements (Rudras ‘stationed on the serpent’), it functions like a reference index of theogony and sacred nomenclature alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Remembering and reciting Rudra-names is traditionally held to purify the mind, strengthen devotion to Śiva/Rudra, and accrue religious merit (puṇya) through nāma-smaraṇa.