Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Chapter 299 — ग्रहहृन्मन्त्रादिकम्
Grahahṛn-Mantras and Allied Procedures
खट्टाङ्गाब्जादिशिक्तिञ्च दधानं चतुराननम् अन्तर्वाह्यादिखट्टाङ्गपद्मस्थं रविमण्डले
khaṭṭāṅgābjādiśiktiñca dadhānaṃ caturānanam antarvāhyādikhaṭṭāṅgapadmasthaṃ ravimaṇḍale
Dans le disque du Soleil (ravi-maṇḍala), on doit visualiser la divinité à quatre visages, portant le bâton khaṭṭāṅga, un lotus et d’autres emblèmes, assise sur un lotus marqué du khaṭṭāṅga (intérieur et extérieur) et d’insignes connexes.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Meditative visualization (dhyāna) of a specific four-faced deity within the solar disc for ritual focus, nyāsa, and maṇḍala-upāsanā; also informs iconographic depiction in yantra/maṇḍala art.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ravi-maṇḍala Dhyāna: Four-faced Deity with Khaṭṭāṅga and Lotus","lookup_keywords":["ravi-maṇḍala","caturānana","khaṭṭāṅga","padma","dhyāna-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse instructs visualization of a four-faced deity in the Sun-disc, bearing khaṭṭāṅga and lotus and seated on a lotus marked with specific insignia—used to stabilize solar-maṇḍala worship and inner contemplation."}
Concept: Maṇḍala-dhyāna: the cosmos (here, the Sun) is used as a support (ālambana) for concentrating mind and invoking divine order within perception.
Application: During sunrise/solar worship, visualize the described form in the solar orb; coordinate breath and gaze gently (without strain) to steady attention and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana-yoga (Iconography and meditative visualization of deities within the solar maṇḍala)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Sacred-Cosmic
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant Sun-disc containing a four-faced deity seated on a lotus, holding a khaṭṭāṅga and lotus; the lotus seat bears symbolic markings (khaṭṭāṅga motifs) arranged in inner and outer rings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: large golden-red ravi-maṇḍala with concentric rings; within it a serene four-faced deity on a lotus, holding khaṭṭāṅga and lotus; stylized sacred geometry and traditional border patterns.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: circular sun halo with embossed gold; four-faced deity centered, lotus throne with gold detailing; rich reds and greens, heavy ornamentation, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: precise mandala geometry, clean concentric circles; clear depiction of four faces and emblems; instructional clarity with subtle shading and elegant linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: celestial scene with a luminous sun orb; inside, a finely detailed four-faced figure on lotus; delicate clouds and astronomical motifs; jewel-like palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (if available in tradition)","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिक्तिञ्च = शिक्तिम्/शुक्तिम् + च (anusvāra before c); रविमण्डले = रवि + मण्डले; long compound segmented by semantic members.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi sections on Sūrya-upāsanā and maṇḍala-dhyāna near ch. 299
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization specification): meditate on a four-faced deity within the ravi-maṇḍala, defined by specific held emblems (khaṭṭāṅga, lotus, etc.) and a lotus-seat marked by inner/outer insignia.
It preserves precise iconographic and ritual-meditative metadata (form, weapons/emblems, seat, location in a cosmic maṇḍala), showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of practical worship-technology alongside theology.
Such disciplined visualization aligns the practitioner’s mind with the solar maṇḍala’s divinity, supporting purification, steadiness in worship, and merit (puṇya) through correct dhyāna according to scriptural form.