Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 41
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
चत्वारिंशदधिकानि चतुर्दशशतानि हि मण्डलानि हरेः शम्भोर्देव्याः सूर्यस्य सन्ति च
catvāriṃśadadhikāni caturdaśaśatāni hi maṇḍalāni hareḥ śambhordevyāḥ sūryasya santi ca
Indeed, there are fourteen hundred and forty maṇḍalas belonging to Hari (Viṣṇu), Śambhu (Śiva), the Goddess, and also the Sun.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Counting and classifying deity-specific maṇḍalas for ritual planning, yantra selection, and cosmographic mapping in worship manuals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Saṅkhyā of Deity-Maṇḍalas (Hari–Śambhu–Devī–Sūrya)","lookup_keywords":["maṇḍala-saṅkhyā","Hari maṇḍala","Śambhu maṇḍala","Devī maṇḍala","Sūrya maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a fixed total count of maṇḍalas attributed to four major deity-streams, serving as a canonical enumeration for cosmographic/ritual diagram traditions."}
Concept: Cosmic/ritual order is expressible through number (saṅkhyā) and diagram (maṇḍala) tied to deity-tattvas.
Application: Use numerical canons to standardize ritual diagrams and ensure lineage-consistent classifications.
Khanda Section: Mandala-Loka-Sankhya (Cosmography & Sacred Geometry)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmographic chart showing many maṇḍalas grouped under Viṣṇu, Śiva, Devī, and Sūrya, with numeric labels and quadrant-wise arrangement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, flat yet vivid colors, four deity panels (Hari, Śambhu, Devī, Sūrya) surrounding a central grid of many mandalas, palm-leaf manuscript feel, sacred geometry lines in ochre and red.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, four deity icons in ornate arches, central mandala-grid rendered with embossed gold highlights, rich reds and greens, temple lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, delicate linework, instructional diagram sheet showing grouped mandalas with neat Devanagari labels, soft pastel background, minimal ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-atelier precision, a scholar presenting a folio of mandala counts to a patron, margins filled with geometric rosettes, fine calligraphy and numbered circles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catvāriṃśadadhikāni → catvāriṃśat-adhikāni; caturdaśaśatāni → caturdaśa-śatāni; śambhordevyāḥ → śambhoḥ devyāḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 319 (maṇḍala/yantra/vāstu enumerations)
FAQs
It transmits a technical enumeration used in maṇḍala-vidyā—classifying and counting deity-specific maṇḍalas (ritual diagrams) associated with Viṣṇu, Śiva, Devī, and Sūrya.
By preserving a precise numerical catalog of ritual-cosmographic categories (maṇḍalas) across multiple deity systems, it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s compendium style—mixing theology with technical lists used in worship, visualization, and diagrammatic ritual practice.
The verse frames maṇḍalas as an ordered sacred corpus tied to major deities; knowing (and correctly applying) such classifications is traditionally treated as supporting correct worship (yathā-vidhi) and thus aiding purity, merit, and focused devotion.