Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्
The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones
मध्यभावे चतस्रो ऽपि मातृवद्भावसम्मताः ॐ पूर्णे त्वं महाविश्वे सर्वसन्दोहलक्षणे
madhyabhāve catasro 'pi mātṛvadbhāvasammatāḥ oṃ pūrṇe tvaṃ mahāviśve sarvasandohalakṣaṇe
Dans la pose contemplative au centre, les quatre (puissances) doivent aussi être tenues pour maternelles de disposition. « Oṃ — Ô Pūrṇā (la Plénitude), Tu es le Grand Univers, caractérisé comme la totalité rassemblée (agrégat) de toutes les existences. »
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the worship-method to the sage Vashistha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Central nyāsa contemplation: treating four śaktis as mother-like presences and invoking Pūrṇā as the totality of the universe (sarva-sandoha), strengthening bhāvanā for śakti-pratiṣṭhā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Pūrṇā Invocation: Sarva-sandoha-lakṣaṇā (Total Aggregate of Existence)","lookup_keywords":["Purna mantra","sarva-sandoha","matrivat bhava","shakti nyasa","mahavishva"],"quick_summary":"In the central placement, contemplate the four powers as maternal; invoke Pūrṇā as the Great Universe, the integrated aggregate of all existences, to complete śakti-bhāvanā."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Pūrṇatā (wholeness): the deity as the complete universe and the aggregate of all categories; śakti as nurturing ground of existence.
Application: Use the mantra as a contemplative key to dissolve fragmentation and stabilize non-dual, all-inclusive devotion during nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-Mantra (Shakti worship and nyasa-style contemplations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the center of a mandala, a radiant Devī Pūrṇā expands into a cosmic form containing worlds; four maternal śaktis stand or sit around her in protective, nurturing poses; the practitioner contemplates them as mothers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī in central lotus, expanding into a viśvarūpa with miniature worlds; four motherly śaktis around, gentle expressions; rich ornamental borders and sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Devī Pūrṇā with gold halo and embossed jewelry; cosmic motifs (sun, moon, planets) within her aura; four maternal attendants symmetrically placed; heavy gold work emphasizing ‘pūrṇatā’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, soft colors; clear central placement diagram with Devī in the middle and four śaktis around; inscriptions of the mantra line; serene faces and refined detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, delicate cosmic imagery; Devī seated on lotus with translucent universe-map in her aura; four attendants with maternal gestures; the sādhaka shown in a corner in contemplation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतस्रो ऽपि = चतस्रः + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 94 (devī-mantra and nyāsa contemplations)
FAQs
It gives a worship-instruction for visualization/placement (madhyabhāva) where four feminine powers are treated as Matrika-like (motherly) divinities, followed by a mantra-address identifying the Devi as the complete cosmic totality (sarva-sandoha).
It exemplifies the text’s ritual-technical layer—mantra, deity-identification, and structured contemplation—alongside its many other subjects, showing how Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical procedures in addition to narrative and doctrine.
By honoring the four powers as Mother-like and invoking the Devi as the all-inclusive Whole, the practitioner cultivates non-dual reverence and purification of perception—seeing all principles as contained within the divine totality—supporting merit (puṇya) and inner steadiness in worship.