Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
मध्ये पद्मं पूर्ववच्च विघ्नध्वंसं वदाम्यथ चतुर्हस्तं पुरं कृत्वा वृत्रञ्चैव करद्वयम्
madhye padmaṃ pūrvavacca vighnadhvaṃsaṃ vadāmyatha caturhastaṃ puraṃ kṛtvā vṛtrañcaiva karadvayam
મધ્યમાં પૂર્વવત્ કમળ સ્થાપવું. હવે ‘વિઘ્નધ્વંસ’નું વિધાન કહું છું: તેને ચતુર્ભુજ (ચાર હાથવાળું) રૂપ બનાવી, ‘પુર’ (નગર/દુર્ગ) અને ‘વૃત્ર’ને પણ કરદ્વય (બે હાથ) દ્વારા ધારણ/નિયોજિત કરવું.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Yantra-dhyāna and protective ritual visualization: central lotus placement and iconographic specification of a Vighna-dhvaṃsa form for obstacle-removal rites.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vighna-dhvaṃsa-kalpa: central lotus and four-armed obstacle-destroyer visualization","lookup_keywords":["vighna-dhvaṃsa","dhyāna","caturbhuja","padma-madhya","pura Vṛtra"],"quick_summary":"In the mandala’s center place a lotus; then visualize/depict the Vighna-dhvaṃsa deity as four-armed, associated with a ‘pura’ (fort/city motif) and Vṛtra handled/held by two hands—an iconographic cue for removing impediments."}
Concept: Inner and outer obstacles (vighna) are overcome through correctly formed visualization (dhyāna) anchored in sacred geometry (padma/mandala).
Application: Use as a dhyāna-krama before undertaking rites, travel, construction, or initiations—mentally install the central lotus and the four-armed Vighna-dhvaṃsa form to ‘clear the path’.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-yantra-dhyana (Vighna-nashaka-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with a central lotus; above it a four-armed deity labeled Vighna-dhvaṃsa, with a stylized fort/city backdrop and a subdued serpent/dragon-like Vṛtra motif grasped/controlled by two hands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central lotus mandala on temple floor, fierce yet auspicious four-armed guardian deity, fort-like arch backdrop, Vṛtra as coiled dark serpent subdued, bold outlines, traditional red/ochre/green palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: four-armed Vighna-dhvaṃsa seated/standing on a lotus, gold-embossed halo and fort motif, Vṛtra rendered as subdued serpent-demon, rich jewel colors with heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear iconographic plate—central padma, caturbhuja deity with two hands restraining Vṛtra, schematic fort/city emblem behind, annotated for ritual use, delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly atelier depiction of a tantric rite, priest drawing a lotus mandala, visionary four-armed figure appearing above, fort walls in background motif, Vṛtra as dragon subdued, fine detail and muted palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvavacca → pūrvavat + ca. vadāmyatha → vadāmi + atha. vṛtrañcaiva → vṛtram + ca + eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yantra/mandala-dhyāna and vighna-śānti passages in the Puja-vidhi/Tantra portions near 319
FAQs
It gives a mandala/visualization instruction: place a central lotus and construct a four-armed ‘Vighna-dhvaṃsa’ form, with a ‘pura’ (enclosure/fortified diagram) and Vṛtra depicted/handled as part of the iconography to remove obstacles.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical ritual-technology—diagrammatic mandala construction, deity iconography, and specific obstacle-destroying rites—showing the text’s coverage of applied tantra/puja procedures alongside narrative material.
By ritually configuring the central lotus and the obstacle-subduing form (with Vṛtra symbolizing impediments), the practitioner seeks purification and the removal of hindrances to worship, vows, and life-goals (siddhi).