Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 6
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
तृतीयं दलसन्धीनां दलाग्राणां चतुर्थकम् प्रसार्य कोणसूत्राणि कोणदिङ्मध्यमन्ततः अतिरात्रञ्च सम्पूज्य तथाप्तोर्याममर्चयेत् मनो बुद्धिमहङ्कारं शब्दं स्पर्शञ्च रूपकं
tṛtīyaṃ dalasandhīnāṃ dalāgrāṇāṃ caturthakam prasārya koṇasūtrāṇi koṇadiṅmadhyamantataḥ atirātrañca sampūjya tathāptoryāmamarcayet mano buddhimahaṅkāraṃ śabdaṃ sparśañca rūpakaṃ
दल-संधियों पर तीसरा बिंदु और दलों के अग्रभाग पर चौथा बिंदु अंकित करे। कोनों से तिर्यक् सूत्र-रेखाएँ फैलाकर, कोन-दिशाओं से मध्य होकर अंत तक ले जाए। फिर विधिपूर्वक अतिरात्र यज्ञ का तथा उसी प्रकार आप्तोर्याम का पूजन करे। मन, बुद्धि, अहंकार और शब्द, स्पर्श, रूप—इन तन्मात्राओं का भी अर्चन करे।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Padma-mandala/yantra construction with nyāsa and āvaraṇa-pūjā: marking petal-junctions and tips, drawing diagonal (koṇa) lines, then worshipping Vedic-yajña names and inner tattvas (antaḥkaraṇa and tanmātras).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padma-maṇḍala: dalasandhi/dalāgra-lakṣaṇa, koṇa-sūtra-vistāra, Atirātra–Āptoryāma-pūjā, antaḥkaraṇa–tanmātra-arcana","lookup_keywords":["padma-maṇḍala","dalasandhi","koṇa-sūtra","Atirātra","Āptoryāma"],"quick_summary":"Mark the lotus at petal-junctions and petal-tips, extend diagonal guide-lines from the corners through the center, then perform āvaraṇa worship including Atirātra/Āptoryāma and the inner faculties (mind, intellect, ego) with subtle elements (sound, touch, form)."}
Concept: Antaḥkaraṇa (manas–buddhi–ahaṅkāra) and tanmātras (śabda–sparśa–rūpa) are ritually installed/worshipped as powers within the maṇḍala, integrating inner psychology with outer sacred space.
Application: Use nyāsa to internalize the maṇḍala: treat cognitive functions and sensory subtlety as worship-worthy loci, aiding concentration and systematic visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Mandala-nyasa and ritual worship sequence)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist draws an eight/lotus-based maṇḍala: marking petal junctions and tips, extending diagonal lines from corners through the center; nearby are inscribed labels for Atirātra and Āptoryāma, and inner faculties (manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra) with tanmātras (śabda, sparśa, rūpa).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, priest seated before a lotus maṇḍala on the floor, clear corner-diagonals and petal markings, small Devanagari/Sanskrit labels for Atirātra and Āptoryāma, serene sacred ambience, traditional lamps and ritual vessels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central lotus maṇḍala with raised gold detailing on petal outlines and corner-diagonals, priest with ritual implements, ornate borders, inscriptions for manas-buddhi-ahaṅkāra and śabda-sparśa-rūpa, devotional glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, precise linework emphasizing geometric construction steps: petal junction points, petal tips, diagonal guide-lines; annotated Sanskrit terms; calm instructional composition with muted palette and delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a scholar-priest drafting a lotus diagram with compass/thread, corner-diagonals drawn, marginal notes naming Atirātra/Āptoryāma and inner tattvas, fine architectural interior and detailed textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṇadiṅmadhyamantataḥ → koṇa-diṅ-madhyam + antataḥ; atirātrañca → atirātram + ca; tathāptoryāmam → tathā + āptoryāmam; sparśañca → sparśam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (padma-yantra/āvaraṇa-pūjā sequence); Agni Purana sections on nyāsa and mantra-lekhana in pūjā-vidhi
FAQs
It teaches mandala/yantra layout rules (petal-junction and petal-tip placements, corner-diagonal guideline lines) and prescribes worship of Atirātra and Aptoryāma along with nyāsa-like veneration of inner faculties (manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra) and subtle sense-essences (śabda, sparśa, rūpa).
It fuses Vedic śrauta-sacrifice terminology (Atirātra, Aptoryāma) with diagrammatic/tantric ritual engineering (mandala geometry and internal principle-worship), showing how the Agni Purana compiles multiple ritual systems into a single practical manual.
By aligning external worship (rites and mandala structure) with internal worship (mind, intellect, ego and tanmātras), the practitioner ritualizes self-purification—integrating cognition and perception into devotion—aimed at merit (puṇya) and inner refinement.