Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 20
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
एका पङ्क्तिः प्राभ्यां तु द्वारशोभादि पूर्ववत् द्वादशाङ्गुलिभिः पद्ममेकहस्ते तु मण्डले शमीपत्रादिकैः श्यामं वीजानां लक्षजाप्यतः चतुर्लक्षैस्तु मन्त्राणां विद्यानां लक्षसाधनम्
ekā paṅktiḥ prābhyāṃ tu dvāraśobhādi pūrvavat dvādaśāṅgulibhiḥ padmamekahaste tu maṇḍale śamīpatrādikaiḥ śyāmaṃ vījānāṃ lakṣajāpyataḥ caturlakṣaistu mantrāṇāṃ vidyānāṃ lakṣasādhanam
One row of decorative design should be made in front; and the door-ornamentation and related features are to be arranged as previously described. In the maṇḍala, a lotus measuring twelve aṅgulas should be drawn within a space of one hasta. It should be colored dark (śyāma) using śamī leaves and similar materials. The seed-syllables (bīja) are to be repeated one lakh (100,000) times; mantras are perfected by four lakhs (400,000) repetitions; and a vidyā is accomplished by one lakh repetitions.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s ritual-technical discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Standard measurements for lotus-in-mandala drawing and practical japa counts for bīja, mantra, and vidyā siddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-padma-māna & japa-saṅkhyā (bīja/mantra/vidyā)","lookup_keywords":["dvādaśāṅguli padma","hasta","śamī-patra","lakṣa-japa","mantra-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"Draw a 12-aṅgula lotus within a 1-hasta mandala, color it dark using śamī leaves, and follow japa counts: 1 lakh for bīja, 4 lakhs for mantra, and 1 lakh for vidyā accomplishment (as stated here)."}
Concept: Siddhi arises from measurable discipline: correct maṇḍala form plus fixed japa-saṅkhyā.
Application: Gives practitioners a concrete practice plan: prepare the mandala to specification and complete prescribed repetition counts for bīja/mantra/vidyā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-sadhana (Mandala & Japa-lakshana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual space with a front decorative row and door-ornament motifs; a square mandala of one hasta containing a 12-aṅgula lotus, shaded dark using śamī leaves; a counting rosary and tally marks indicating 1 lakh and 4 lakh japa targets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, sādhaka drawing a one-hasta mandala with a 12-aṅgula lotus, applying dark green-black pigment from śamī leaves, rosary in hand, temple doorway ornamentation visible, calm lamp-lit atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold, central lotus mandala within a square, ornate dvāra-śobhā border, dark lotus fill, rosary and manuscript showing ‘lakṣa’ counts, rich gold embellishments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction with measurement markers (aṅgula, hasta) around the lotus and square, notes on japa counts (1 lakh bīja, 4 lakhs mantra, 1 lakh vidyā), sādhaka seated with japa-mālā","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-sādhaka in an atelier-like shrine, geometric mandala with lotus, small bowl of crushed śamī leaves for dark pigment, rosary and counting board, fine architectural doorway ornament in background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dvādaśāṅgulibhiḥ = dvādaśa-aṅgulibhiḥ; padmamekahaste = padmam + eka-haste; śamīpatrādikaiḥ = śamī-patra-ādikaiḥ; lakṣajāpyataḥ = lakṣa-jāpyataḥ; caturlakṣaistu = catur-lakṣaiḥ + tu; reanalysis assumes technical ritual-measure terms.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.16-29.19 (mandala coloration, grids, pigment sources)
FAQs
It specifies practical maṇḍala-making rules (lotus diagram size in aṅgula/hasta measures, coloring with śamī leaves) and prescribes japa-count standards for bīja, mantra, and vidyā-sādhana.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves highly technical ritual protocols—diagram geometry, material prescriptions, and quantitative japa norms—showing its role as a compendium of applied religious and mantra-śāstra practice.
By standardizing maṇḍala purity and disciplined repetition counts, the verse frames mantra practice as a regulated sādhana aimed at mantra-siddhi (attainment) and ritual efficacy, traditionally associated with purification and merit when performed correctly.