Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
वागीश्वरीपूजा
Worship of Vāgīśvarī
उपद्वाराणित द्वच्च कोणबान्धं द्विपट्टिकम् सिदानि नव पद्मानि कर्णिका कनकप्रभा
upadvārāṇita dvacca koṇabāndhaṃ dvipaṭṭikam sidāni nava padmāni karṇikā kanakaprabhā
There should be subsidiary doorways (upadvāra) and a double (twofold) arrangement; the corners are to be secured with diagonal bands, and the door is to be made with two leaves (double shutters). Nine perfected lotuses (padmāni) are to be drawn/placed, whose central pericarp (karṇikā) shines with golden radiance.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purana instructional chapters)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Designing a mandala/yantra-based doorway system: subsidiary doors, corner bracing with diagonals, double shutters, and a nine-lotus (navapadma) scheme with a radiant central karṇikā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Navapadma maṇḍala: upadvāra, corner bands, and dvipāṭṭikā doors","lookup_keywords":["upadvāra","dvipāṭṭikā","koṇa-bāndha","navapadma","karṇikā"],"quick_summary":"Provide subsidiary doorways and a twofold arrangement; bind corners with diagonal bands and use double-leaf shutters; place nine lotus units with a luminous central pericarp."}
Concept: Auspicious order (navapadma with golden karṇikā) integrates beauty and stability (corner binding, double doors).
Application: In sacred diagrams and buildings, combine symbolic centers (karṇikā) with practical reinforcement (koṇa-bāndha) and controlled access (upadvāra).
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Mandala-vidhi (Yantra and architectural diagramming)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square mandala with nine lotus motifs arranged in a 3x3 pattern; corners tied with diagonal bands; doors shown as double shutters; central lotus pericarp glowing gold.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural depiction of a navapadma yantra on a temple floor, thick confident outlines, diagonal corner bands, double-shutter door symbols, central karṇikā painted in luminous yellow-gold, traditional floral borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style navapadma diagram with heavy gold foil on the central karṇikā and door frames, embossed diagonals at corners, jewel tones, devotional symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting as a technical plate: navapadma layout with labels (upadvāra, dvipāṭṭikā, koṇa-bāndha), fine line precision, soft washes, emphasis on clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of artisans installing a double-leaf doorway while a master draws a nine-lotus plan; delicate architectural detailing, gold highlights at the center, diagonal corner braces visible"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Text appears corrupt in places: “उपद्वाराणित” read as उपद्वाराणि; “द्वच्च” read as तत् + च; “सिदानि” read as सिद्धानि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 318.8 (coloring/rekhā rules for the same diagram); Agni Purana 318.9 (deity placement within lotus/yantra)
FAQs
It gives Vastu/mandala specifications: subsidiary doorways, corner-binding (diagonal bracing/bands), a two-panel door arrangement, and the placement of nine lotus-forms with a golden central hub.
Beyond theology, it preserves technical design rules used in sacred architecture and ritual diagrams—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical Vastu and mandala-construction alongside religious instruction.
Correctly formed doorways and auspicious lotus-mandalas are treated as purity-ensuring arrangements that support consecration, ward off inauspiciousness, and stabilize the sanctified space for worship.