Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 41
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
तदेव सर्वतोभद्रं त्रिविधं सरसीरुहं चतुष्पत्रं ततो विघ्नं चतुष्पत्रे उभे अपि
tadeva sarvatobhadraṃ trividhaṃ sarasīruhaṃ catuṣpatraṃ tato vighnaṃ catuṣpatre ubhe api
वही (आलेख) ‘सर्वतोभद्र’ है; ‘सरसीरुह’ (कमल-यंत्र) तीन प्रकार का होता है। इसके बाद चतुष्पत्र (चार-पंखुड़ी) आता है और फिर विघ्न-निवारक यंत्र—ये दोनों भी चतुष्पत्र रूप में बनाए जाते हैं।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing protective yantras/lotus-maṇḍalas for pūjā, āvaraṇa-nyāsa, and vighna-śānti by selecting the correct lotus type and petal-count.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sarvatobhadra and Lotus-Maṇḍala Types (Tri-vidha Sarasīruha; Catuṣpatra; Vighna-catuṣpatra)","lookup_keywords":["sarvatobhadra","sarasīruha","catuṣpatra","vighna-yantra","maṇḍala-bheda"],"quick_summary":"Classifies common protective diagrams: the sarvatobhadra and lotus-maṇḍalas, noting a threefold lotus-type and specifying that both the catuṣpatra lotus and vighna-warding diagram are four-petalled."}
Concept: Ritual order (krama) and correct form (ākṛti) are themselves upāya for removing obstacles (vighna).
Application: Before mantra-japa or homa, choose the prescribed maṇḍala-type and petal-count to align the rite with its intended protective function.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mandala (Protective diagrams and lotus-maṇḍalas)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual floor-diagram showing a sarvatobhadra grid beside lotus-maṇḍalas: a tri-typed lotus schema, then a clear four-petalled lotus and a vighna-warding four-petalled diagram, drawn with clean lines and labeled petals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, ochre-red ground, priest drawing a white kolam-like sarvatobhadra and a four-petalled lotus-maṇḍala, minimal shading, sacred geometry emphasized, traditional lamps and pūjā vessels nearby.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf accents highlighting the lotus petals and central bindu, a pūjā altar with kalasha and flowers, the sarvatobhadra and catuṣpatra diagrams rendered as ornate sacred geometry with embossed gold outlines.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional composition: two panels showing sarvatobhadra and catuṣpatra/vighna-catuṣpatra, fine linework, soft colors, small Sanskrit labels on petals, calm workshop-like ritual setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a scholar-priest in a pavilion demonstrating geometric diagrams on a floor cloth, precise grid sarvatobhadra and four-petalled lotus forms, delicate borders, calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदेव = तत् + एव; सर्वतोभद्रं is अव्ययीभाव (सर्वतः + भद्र); चतुष्पत्रे is loc.sg of द्विगु compound; उभे अपि kept separate (no sandhi applied).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (yantra-maṇḍala and pūjā-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana sections on mantra-nyāsa and āvaraṇa-devatā placement (yantra context)
FAQs
It classifies ritual maṇḍalas/yantras: the Sarvatobhadra, a threefold lotus (sarasīruha), and specifies that the next two forms—(a) the four-petalled lotus and (b) the Vighna-warding design—are to be made as four-petalled layouts.
Alongside theology and myths, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical ritual-technology: named diagram systems (Sarvatobhadra, lotus-maṇḍalas) with formal specifications (like petal-count), showing its compendium-style coverage of applied liturgy and protective rites.
Correctly constructing auspicious and obstacle-removing (vighna-nivāraṇa) diagrams is presented as a means to secure ritual success, protection, and the unobstructed fruition of worship and vows.