Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13

Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images

Devanagari script

मन्दिराग्निदलारूढं सुवर्णरसकान्वितं नादविन्द्वन्दुसंयुक्तं मातृनाथाङ्गदीपितं

Transliteration

mandirāgnidalārūḍhaṃ suvarṇarasakānvitaṃ nādavindvandusaṃyuktaṃ mātṛnāthāṅgadīpitaṃ

Translation

Établi sur le pétale du feu du maṇḍala, pourvu d’une essence d’or; conjoint à nāda et au couple—bindu et le croissant de lune—; et illuminé par les Mères et par le Seigneur au moyen de leurs aṅgas (membres/parties auxiliaires).

Word by Word

• मन्दिराग्निदलारूढम्: mounted/placed on the petal of the temple-fire (lotus/petal imagery)
• मन्दिराग्निदलारूढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्दिर-अग्नि-दल-आरूढ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान): मन्दिर + अग्नि + दल; कृदन्त: आरूढ (क्त; √रुह्/आ+√रुह्) = आरूढः/स्थितः

• सुवर्णरसकान्वितम्: endowed with golden essence/nectar
• सुवर्णरसकान्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण-रसक-अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: सुवर्णस्य रसकः (स्वर्णरस/स्वर्णवर्ण-रस) + अन्वित (क्त)

• नादविन्द्वन्दुसंयुक्तम्: joined with nāda, bindu, and indu
• नादविन्द्वन्दुसंयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद-बिन्दु-इन्दु-संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः: नाद + बिन्दु + इन्दु; कृदन्त: संयुक्त (क्त; √युज्/सम्+√युज्)

• मातृनाथाङ्गदीपितम्: illumined in the limbs by the Lord of the Mothers
• मातृनाथाङ्गदीपितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ-नाथ-अङ्ग-दीपित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: मातॄणां नाथः (स्वामी) + अङ्ग (शरीर) ; कृदन्त: दीपित (क्त; √दीप्) = प्रकाशित/दीप्त

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual-mantra lakṣaṇas)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Yantra–mantra visualization: placing bīja/śakti on a maṇḍala ‘fire-petal’, integrating nāda, bindu, and ardhacandra markers, and illuminating via Mātṛkā and Nātha aṅgas for japa, nyāsa, and internal dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nāda–Bindu–Candra Saṃyoga on Agni-dala Maṇḍala (Mātṛkā-Nātha Aṅga-dīpana)","lookup_keywords":["maṇḍala","agni-dala","nāda","bindu","candra"],"quick_summary":"Visualize the mantra-form seated on the fire-petal of the maṇḍala, suffused with golden essence, and marked by nāda, bindu, and crescent. Empower it through the aṅgas of the Mothers and the Lord for effective mantra-siddhi."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra as śabda-tattva with visual correlates (nāda/bindu/candra) and śakti-network (Mātṛkā) activation through aṅgas.

Application: Use as a dhyāna template while drawing the yantra, installing bīja, performing ṣaḍaṅga/ aṅga-nyāsa, and commencing japa/homa.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra–Mantra Lakshana (Tantric-ritual iconography and mystical syllable-description)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant yantra-maṇḍala with a central fire-petal (agni-dala), golden glow, and seed-syllable marked by nāda, bindu, and crescent; surrounding Mātṛkā ring and Nātha presence indicated by auxiliary limbs/markers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala with lotus petals, central agni-petal glowing, bīja-akṣara with bindu and crescent clearly drawn, surrounding Mātṛkās as stylized goddess heads in a ring, luminous ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, yantra rendered as sacred diagram with gold foil accents, central golden essence, bindu-candra highlighted, ornate border with Mātṛkā motifs, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise geometric yantra lines, clear depiction of nāda-bindu-candra marks, instructional neatness, subtle gradients to show ‘svarṇa-rasa’ radiance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript-illustration feel: yantra on a folio page, fine ink geometry, gold wash at center, marginal figures of Mātṛkās and a Nātha/Śiva emblem, delicate detailing"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: नादविन्द्वन्दु- → नाद + बिन्दु + इन्दु (बिन्द्विन्दु-सन्धिः: बिन्दु + इन्दु → बिन्द्विन्दु). मातृनाथाङ्गदीपितम् → मातृनाथ + अङ्ग + दीपितम् (अङ्ग-आदेशः).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Yantra–mantra lakṣaṇa sequence around these verses)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Nāda
• Bindu
• Candra (crescent)
• Mātṛkās (Mothers)
• Nātha (Lord)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It encodes the lakṣaṇa (formal marks) of a mantra/bīja or its yantric placement—describing how it is visualized: set on a lotus-petal/maṇḍala, qualified by nāda, bindu, and the crescent (candra), and empowered via Mātṛkā and aṅga/auxiliary components used in nyāsa and worship.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond mythic narrative, it preserves technical tantric-ritual vocabulary (nāda–bindu–candra, maṇḍala-petals, Mātṛkā power, aṅga-auxiliaries), showing the text’s coverage of practical liturgy, mantra-science, and iconographic visualization alongside other disciplines.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Correct visualization and auxiliary-empowerment (aṅga/nyāsa) are presented as making the mantra ‘radiant’ and effective—supporting purification, steadiness of mind, and successful completion (siddhi) of the intended rite when performed in a disciplined temple/maṇḍala context.