Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
महाभूतानि कोणेषु ऐशान्यादिषु संयजेत् पद्मं चक्रं गदां शङ्खं चतुरश्रन्तु मण्डलं
mahābhūtāni koṇeṣu aiśānyādiṣu saṃyajet padmaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ śaṅkhaṃ caturaśrantu maṇḍalaṃ
One should duly install (assign in worship) the great elements in the corner-directions beginning with Īśāna (northeast). The maṇḍala is to be a four-sided (square) figure, bearing the lotus, discus, mace, and conch.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, the typical frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing and ritually installing a square mandala with directional placement (dik-nyasa) of mahābhūtas and auspicious emblems for temple/altar consecration and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mahābhūta-dik-nyāsa in square mandala with padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha","lookup_keywords":["mahābhūta","dik-nyāsa","īśāna","caturasra maṇḍala","padma cakra gadā śaṅkha"],"quick_summary":"Install the five great elements in the corner-directions starting from Īśāna (NE) and draw a square mandala marked with lotus, discus, mace, and conch as protective and auspicious emblems."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm mapping: elements and divine emblems are stabilized in space through dik-nyāsa to harmonize the ritual field.
Application: Use directional placement to reduce ritual faults (doṣa) and to ‘seal’ the space with auspicious symbols before worship/pratiṣṭhā.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Mandala-nyasa (Directional installation of elements and emblems)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square ritual mandala on the ground, with corner-direction labels beginning at the northeast, and four Vaiṣṇava emblems (lotus, discus, mace, conch) placed on/within the diagram; priests preparing for installation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, square mandala on floor with NE marked as Īśāna, stylized padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha in the four quadrants, priests in white dhoti performing nyāsa, sacred geometry emphasis","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, square mandala bordered in ornate gold, luminous padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha emblems, temple interior setting, rich reds and greens, devotional auspiciousness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional depiction of caturasra maṇḍala with labeled directions and corner placements, minimal background, focus on diagram accuracy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a courtyard with a precise square mandala, attendants placing emblems at corners, fine geometric detailing, delicate palette, marginal notes indicating directions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: aiśānyādiṣu = aiśānya-ādiṣu; caturaśrantu interpreted as caturaśram + tu (common sandhi/orthographic joining).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu-vidyā sections on maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa, dik-nyāsa, and pratiṣṭhā-vidhi (surrounding verses in adhyāya 290)
FAQs
It teaches mandala-nyāsa: placing the pañca-mahābhūtas in the corner-directions starting from Īśāna (NE) and marking a square mandala with the four Vaiṣṇava emblems—padma, cakra, gadā, and śaṅkha.
Beyond myth and theology, it preserves applied ritual-technical knowledge—Vastu/yantra geometry and directional assignments—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium that includes temple/mandala design and procedural worship methods.
Correct directional installation and emblem-marking of the mandala is held to harmonize the elements, purify the ritual space, and align worship with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting merit (puṇya) and ritual efficacy (siddhi).