Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 21
Chapter 299 — ग्रहहृन्मन्त्रादिकम्
Grahahṛn-Mantras and Allied Procedures
पीठोपरि हृदा मध्ये दिक्षु चैव विदिक्षु च पीठोपरि हृदाब्जञ्च केशवेष्वष्टशक्तयः
pīṭhopari hṛdā madhye dikṣu caiva vidikṣu ca pīṭhopari hṛdābjañca keśaveṣvaṣṭaśaktayaḥ
Sur le pīṭha, au centre du cœur, et dans les directions cardinales comme intermédiaires—sur le siège et sur le lotus du cœur—doivent être placées/visualisées les huit Śakti associées à Keśava.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa/āvaraṇa placement of eight śaktis linked with Keśava on the pīṭha and within the heart-lotus across directions, forming a protective and empowering devotional circuit.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Keśava-aṣṭaśakti placement on pīṭha and hṛd-abja","lookup_keywords":["Keśava","aṣṭa-śakti","hṛd-abja","pīṭha","dik-vidik-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Establish the pīṭha and heart-lotus as primary loci, then place the eight śaktis of Keśava in the center and across cardinal/intermediate directions to complete the āvaraṇa (enclosure) of worship."}
Concept: Devotion is structured through āvaraṇa: the deity is approached via ordered śakti-circuits, integrating space (directions) and psyche (heart-lotus).
Application: Use directional placement to maintain ritual order, protection, and focused visualization during mantra-japa and offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Mantra-nyasa and Chakra-Devata placement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pīṭha (ritual seat) and a heart-lotus are shown as two focal platforms; eight śaktis are arranged around them in cardinal and intermediate directions like a mandalic ring associated with Keśava.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized lotus-seat and inner heart-lotus motif, eight feminine śakti figures placed around in a circular directional scheme, Keśava symbol (śaṅkha-cakra) subtly present, bold outlines and warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Keśava emblem with gold halo; eight śaktis as small attendant figures around a throne-like pīṭha and lotus, heavy gold work on ornaments, symmetrical mandala composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean, labeled mandala diagram aesthetic—pīṭha and hṛd-abja indicated, eight śaktis placed at dik/vidik points, delicate colors and fine linework for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined mandala-in-a-room concept—pīṭha at center, eight attendants around, heart-lotus motif as a translucent overlay on the practitioner, intricate borders and balanced geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पीठोपरि = पीठ-उपरि (अव्ययीभाव); हृदाब्जञ्च = हृदब्जम् च; केशवेष्वष्टशक्तयः = केशवेषु अष्टशक्तयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 299 (pīṭha-kalpanā; hṛdaya-lotus; śakti/āvaraṇa placements)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa/vinyāsa: the prescribed placement/visualization of Keśava’s eight Śaktis on the ritual seat, within the heart-center, and across the cardinal and intercardinal directions.
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—directional mandala-logic, heart-lotus visualization, and deity–śakti mapping—typical of temple and tantric worship manuals.
Correctly installing deities and their Śaktis through nyāsa is held to purify the practitioner and consecrate the worship-space/body as a fit vessel for mantra-siddhi and focused devotion.