Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
सर्वेशः सर्वदेवाः स्युः क्रमेण नवतन्तुषु अष्टोत्तरशतान्यर्धं तदर्धं चोत्तमादिकं
sarveśaḥ sarvadevāḥ syuḥ krameṇa navatantuṣu aṣṭottaraśatānyardhaṃ tadardhaṃ cottamādikaṃ
Dans les neuf Tantras, selon l’ordre prescrit, on doit placer/réciter Sarveśa et les groupes appelés Sarvadeva. Leur nombre est la moitié de cent huit ; et la moitié de cette moitié relève du groupe « suprême », à commencer par la classe Uttama.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s primary narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devata-krama (ordered placement/recitation) for a ninefold tantric maṇḍala or nyāsa sequence, including counting rules for deity-groups.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Navatantra Devatā-krama: Sarveśa–Sarvadevāḥ and numerical allotment","lookup_keywords":["navatantra","sarveśa","sarvadevāḥ","devatā-krama","aṣṭottara-śata"],"quick_summary":"Gives the ordered inclusion of Sarveśa and the Sarvadevāḥ within the nine-tantra scheme and indicates a fractional counting/allotment based on 108 and its halves for hierarchical groupings (uttamādi)."}
Concept: Ritual order (krama) and numerical hierarchy as a means to stabilize mantra-devatā practice.
Application: Use fixed counts and ranked groupings to avoid doṣa (ritual error) in japa/nyāsa/maṇḍala recitation.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Mantra and Devata-Enumeration (Navatantra / Devata-krama)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ninefold tantric diagram with Sarveśa at the center and concentric rings of Sarvadevāḥ, annotated with counts derived from 108 and its halves, showing an 'uttamādi' tiering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, central Sarveśa in a circular navatantra maṇḍala, surrounding deity-groups labeled as Sarvadevāḥ, palm-leaf manuscript numerals indicating 108/54/27 tiers, ritual ambience, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed Sarveśa seated centrally, concentric deity circles as embossed medallions, inscriptions of 108 and fractional counts, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and instructional clarity, navatantra grid/lotus with numbered compartments, Sarveśa icon in center, Sarvadevāḥ in ordered sequence, marginal notes showing 108→54→27 allotment","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, a learned ācārya pointing to a ninefold diagram on paper, Sarveśa and grouped deities painted in small medallions, fine calligraphy noting 108 and halves, subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदर्धं चोत्तमादिकं = तत्-अर्धम् च उत्तम-आदिकम्; नवतन्तुषु = नव-तन्तुषु; अष्टोत्तरशतान्यर्धं = अष्टोत्तरशतानि अर्धम् (पदच्छेदः)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Tantra-Mantra sections on devatā-nyāsa and maṇḍala-krama (same khanda); Agni Purana chapters on mantra-saṅkhyā and devatā-gaṇa enumeration
FAQs
It teaches a ritual-technical ordering (krama) and numerical allocation (saṅkhyā) of deity-groups—Sarveśa and the Sarvadevas—within a ninefold tantric framework (navatantra), indicating how many are to be counted/assigned in specific sub-groups.
By preserving a schematic taxonomy—names, groupings, sequence, and numbers—used in tantric/ritual systems, the Agni Purana functions like a reference manual that catalogs doctrinal structures alongside many other disciplines.
Correct sequence and correct count are treated as essential to ritual efficacy; following the prescribed krama and saṅkhyā is understood to stabilize the rite, prevent omissions, and support the intended spiritual result (siddhi/puṇya) through orderly worship and recitation.