Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 21
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
द्विहस्ते हस्तमात्रं स्याद्वृद्ध्या द्वारेण वाचरेत् अपीठञ्चतुरस्रं स्याद्विकरञ्चक्रपङ्कजम् अयुतं बुद्धिविद्यानां स्तोत्राणाञ्च सहस्रकम् पूर्वमेवाथ लक्षेण मन्त्रशुद्धिस् तथात्मनः
dvihaste hastamātraṃ syādvṛddhyā dvāreṇa vācaret apīṭhañcaturasraṃ syādvikarañcakrapaṅkajam ayutaṃ buddhividyānāṃ stotrāṇāñca sahasrakam pūrvamevātha lakṣeṇa mantraśuddhis tathātmanaḥ
द्विहस्त-क्रिया में माप एक हस्त (हस्ता) मात्र हो। वृद्धि के लिए ‘द्वार-न्याय’ से मंत्र का जप करे। पीठ चौकोर हो और चक्र-पद्म में नियत संख्या के अर/दल हों। बुद्धि और विद्या की सिद्धि हेतु दस हजार जप, और स्तोत्रों के लिए एक हजार जप बताए गए हैं। परंतु सबसे पहले एक लाख जप से मंत्र की—और उसी प्रकार साधक की—शुद्धि होती है।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Yantra/mandala construction with correct measures, pitha-shape, and japa-counts for mantra-śuddhi and siddhi-oriented sadhana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hasta-pramāṇa, pīṭha-caturasra, cakra-padma, and japa-saṅkhyā for mantra-śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["hasta-pramāṇa","dvāra-nyāya","pīṭha caturasra","cakra-padma","lakṣa-japa mantra-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Fix the ritual diagram by standard measure (one hasta), use dvāra-nyāya for enlargement/recitation method, keep the pedestal square and the cakra-lotus properly formed; complete lakṣa-japa first for mantra and self-purification, then do goal-specific counts (10,000 for buddhi/vidyā, 1,000 for stotra)."}
Concept: Mantra-śuddhi precedes siddhi; disciplined measure (pramāṇa) and count (saṅkhyā) are integral to efficacy.
Application: Structure practice as: (1) lakṣa-japa for purification, (2) then targeted japa counts for specific aims; maintain strict diagrammatic correctness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mantra-sadhana (Ritual procedure, mantra-japa counts, and yantra/mandala specifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual practitioner lays out a square pīṭha and a cakra-lotus yantra measured by hasta, with marked ‘door’ method expansions; beside it, a tally of japa counts culminating in lakṣa-japa for purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a sādhaka seated near a square pīṭha and a cakra-padma yantra, clear geometric lines, palm-leaf tally marks for japa counts, sacred lamps, restrained palette, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yantra on a square pedestal with embossed gold borders, sādhaka with rosary (japa-mālā), gold-work highlighting the cakra-lotus petals/spokes, temple lamp glow, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram emphasis: labeled hasta measure, square pīṭha, cakra-padma with spokes/petals, dvāra-nyāya expansion shown as stepwise frames; fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly workshop feel: a learned sādhaka and assistant measuring with a cubit rod, drawing a square base and lotus-wheel diagram on a clean floor, japa beads and written counts on a folio, delicate borders and detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādvṛddhyā→syāt vṛddhyā; vācaret apīṭhaṃ→vācaret apīṭham; syādvikarañcakrapaṅkajam→syāt vikaram cakra-paṅkajam; stotrāṇāñca→stotrāṇām ca; pūrvamevātha→pūrvam eva atha; mantraśuddhis tathātmanaḥ→mantraśuddhiḥ tathā ātmanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (yantra-mantra-pūjāvidhi context); Agni Purana mantra-japa and puraścaraṇa sections (adjacent verses 29.22–29.25)
FAQs
It prescribes practical parameters for mantra-sādhana: the ritual measure (one hasta), a method of sequencing/expansion (dvāra-nyāya), the square pīṭha, the chakra-lotus yantra structure, and specific japa targets (10,000 for buddhi/vidyā aims; 1,000 for stotras; 100,000 first for mantra-śuddhi).
It blends metrology (hasta measure), ritual engineering (pīṭha shape), yantra/mandala design (chakra-paṅkaja), and quantified practice (graded japa counts), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compendium of applied religious-technical instructions rather than only narrative theology.
The verse emphasizes that completing a foundational count (one lakh) produces mantra-śuddhi and personal purification, framing spiritual efficacy as dependent on disciplined repetition and preparatory cleansing before pursuing specific siddhi-like goals (buddhi/vidyā).