Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 26
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
दिग्विदिक्षु ततो ऽष्टौ च नीलाब्जानि विवर्तयेत् मध्यपद्मप्रमाणेन त्रिंशत्पद्मानि तानि तु
digvidikṣu tato 'ṣṭau ca nīlābjāni vivartayet madhyapadmapramāṇena triṃśatpadmāni tāni tu
तत्पश्चात् आठों दिशाओं तथा विदिशाओं में नील कमल अंकित करे। वे कमल मध्य कमल के प्रमाण के अनुसार कुल तीस बनाए जाएँ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Construction of a ritual yantra/mandala with correct directional placement and proportional lotus units for puja and nyasa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭadik-nīlotpala-vinyāsa (Thirty blue lotuses around the central lotus)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadik","nīlotpala","padma-nyāsa","mandala","pramāṇa"],"quick_summary":"Draw blue lotuses in the eight directions and intermediate directions, keeping each lotus equal in measure to the central lotus, totaling thirty lotuses as a standardized ring of motifs."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct dik-vinyāsa (directional placement) and pramāṇa (proportion).
Application: Use measured symmetry to stabilize visualization/nyāsa and to standardize temple/yantra layouts.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra–Mandala–Padma-nyasa (Ritual Diagram Construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central lotus in a mandala with thirty blue lotuses placed evenly in the eight directions and intercardinal directions, all equal in size, drawn with compass-like precision.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet ornate geometry, central padma with surrounding nīlotpala motifs in eight directions, mineral blue pigments, ritual diagram aesthetic, clean outlines, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf borders framing a yantra-like lotus mandala, central lotus emphasized, thirty blue lotuses around, embossed ornamentation, rich reds and blues, devotional diagram presentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional mandala plate, fine linework, labeled directions, central lotus with thirty equal blue lotuses, soft shading, precise proportional grid","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down architectural plan rendering, delicate brushwork, central lotus with repeated blue lotus motifs around, margin annotations, geometric clarity"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दिग्विदिक्षु = दिक् + विदिक्षु (द्वन्द्व); ततोऽष्टौ = ततः + अष्टौ; नीलाब्जानि = नील + अब्जानि; मध्यपद्मप्रमाणेन = मध्य + पद्म + प्रमाणेन; त्रिंशत्पद्मानि = त्रिंशत् + पद्मानि
Related Themes: Agni Purana 319 (Yantra–Mandala–Padma-nyāsa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches padma-mandala vinyasa: drawing/arranging blue lotus units in the directional grid (cardinal and intercardinal) with standardized sizing based on the central lotus.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves procedural ritual-technology—diagrammatic worship (yantra/mandala geometry), proportional measurement, and directional placement used in temple and tantric-style pūjā systems.
Correct directional placement and proportion in a worship-mandala is treated as essential for ritual efficacy—supporting purity, focus (ekāgratā), and the intended fruition (siddhi/phala) of the rite.