Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 37
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
पद्मानि पञ्च शुक्लानि मध्ये पूज्यश् च निष्कलः हृदयादीनि पूर्वादौ विदिक्ष्वस्त्राणि वै यजेत्
padmāni pañca śuklāni madhye pūjyaś ca niṣkalaḥ hṛdayādīni pūrvādau vidikṣvastrāṇi vai yajet
પાંચ શ્વેત પદ્મ ગોઠવી, મધ્યમાં નિષ્કલ (નિરાકાર) સ્વરૂપની પૂજા કરવી. પૂર્વથી આરંભ કરીને હૃદયાદિ અંગ-મંત્રોનું યજન કરવું, અને વિદિશાઓમાં અસ્ત્ર-મંત્રોની પૂજા કરવી.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Pūjā-vidhi for mandala worship: arranging lotus seats, central Niṣkala worship, and directional aṅga/astramantra offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañca-śukla-padma vinyāsa with Niṣkala-madhya and aṅga/astramantra-dikpūjā","lookup_keywords":["pañca padma","śukla-padma","niṣkala","hṛdaya-aṅga-mantra","astra-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Place five white lotuses, worship the formless center, then perform aṅga-mantra worship from the east and astra-mantra worship in the intermediate directions for protective completion."}
Concept: Niṣkala (formless) is worshipped through structured supports—lotus vinyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa, and protective astra layers.
Application: In daily/temple worship, combine inner contemplation (niṣkala) with outer ritual sequencing (dik-krama) for completeness and protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Yantra/Mandala worship, Astra-mantra application)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual altar with five white lotus seats arranged around a central space where the formless Niṣkala is worshipped; priest performs aṅga-mantra nyāsa from the east and offers astra-mantras to the intermediate directions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in traditional attire before a mandala altar, five white lotuses, luminous central niṣkala space (aniconic glow), directional markers, subtle depiction of vidik guardians, flat ornate style","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted lotus seats (five white lotuses), central radiant aniconic presence, priest performing nyāsa gestures, gold borders indicating directions, rich temple interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout of five-lotus arrangement, arrows from east showing sequence of hṛdayādi aṅga-mantras, intermediate directions labeled for astra-mantras, refined linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with detailed floor mandala, five white lotuses, priest gesturing nyāsa, attendants holding ritual items, delicate directional geometry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjyaś ca = pūjyaḥ ca; vidikṣvastrāṇi = vidikṣu astrāṇi.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa (hṛdayādi-aṅga), dikpūjā, and maṇḍala-vinyāsa (same khanda sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a mandala-style worship layout: place five white lotuses, worship the Niṣkala in the center, then apply aṅga-mantras (hṛdaya etc.) from the east and deploy astra-mantras in the intercardinal directions for ritual protection.
It preserves precise procedural details of mantra-rituals—directional sequencing, aṅga-nyāsa, and astra-protection—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy and tantric-ritual technology alongside its many other subjects.
Centering worship on the Niṣkala emphasizes contemplation of the formless absolute, while aṅga- and astra-mantras sanctify and protect the ritual space—supporting purity, concentration, and the merit (puṇya) of correctly performed worship.