Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Chapter 264 — Dikpālādi-snāna
Bathing rites for the Dikpālas and associated deities
अमोघश्चित्रभानुश् च पर्जन्यो ऽथ सुदर्शनः स्थापयेत्तु वटानेनान् साश्विरुद्रमरुद्गणान्
amoghaścitrabhānuś ca parjanyo 'tha sudarśanaḥ sthāpayettu vaṭānenān sāśvirudramarudgaṇān
អមោឃៈ ចិត្រភានុៈ បរជន្យៈ ហើយបន្ទាប់មក សុទರ್ಶನៈ—ទេវតាទាំងនេះ ត្រូវដំឡើងតាមការរៀបចំវដ (vaṭa) នេះ ព្រមទាំងអស្វិនទ្វ័យ រុទ្រៈ និងក្រុមមរុតទាំងឡាយ។
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devata-nyāsa/installation: place Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, Sudarśana in the specified vaṭa-arrangement, along with Aśvins, Rudra, and Marut hosts—forming a protective and energizing deity-grid.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaṭa-arrangement installation of Amogha–Citrabhānu–Parjanya–Sudarśana with Aśvins, Rudra, Maruts","lookup_keywords":["devatā-sthāpana","vaṭa-vyūha","Sudarśana","Parjanya","Marut-gaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Install a set of deities—Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, and Sudarśana—according to the vaṭa layout, together with the Aśvins, Rudra, and Maruts, to complete the mandala’s protective and functional pantheon."}
Weapon Type: Chakra (Sudarśana) as weapon-deity
Concept: Ritual space is animated by installing functional powers (weather, vitality, protection, weapon-energy) as an integrated āvaraṇa (enclosure).
Application: In mandala worship, include auxiliary deities/hosts (gaṇas) and weapon-deities to create a complete protective circuit rather than worshipping only the principal deity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nyasa and Mandala-sthapana (installation of deities in ritual layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala layout where multiple deities are installed in a vaṭa-pattern: Sudarśana as radiant chakra-person, Parjanya as rain-bearing deity, Rudra with Marut hosts in dynamic formation, and the twin Aśvins near the periphery; the priest performs nyāsa gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; energetic Marut-gaṇas swirling like wind around the mandala; Rudra central among them; Parjanya with rain clouds; Sudarśana as fiery circular chakra-person; Aśvins as twin youthful healers; symmetrical vaṭa-pattern geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style; Sudarśana rendered with gold radiance and concentric chakra rings; Parjanya with cloud motifs; Rudra and Maruts in ornate halos; Aśvins as twin figures; heavy gold work emphasizing protective aura.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; clear schematic of vaṭa-arrangement with deity placements labeled; refined figures for Aśvins, Rudra, Maruts, Parjanya; Sudarśana highlighted as weapon-deity; instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; courtly precision applied to ritual scene; priest installing deities in a patterned floor diagram; Maruts depicted as swift attendants; Parjanya with cloud-and-rain icon; Sudarśana as luminous disc figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमोघश्चित्रभानुश् = अमोघः + चित्रभानुः; पर्जन्योऽथ = पर्जन्यः + अथ; स्थापयेत्तु = स्थापयेत् + तु; वटानेनान् = वटानेन + एनान्; साश्विरुद्रमरुद्गणान् = स + अश्वि + रुद्र + मरुद्गणान्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: āvaraṇa-devatā and nyāsa/mandala-sthāpana passages; Agni Purāṇa: Sudarśana/astrārcana-related instructions in pūjā-homa contexts
FAQs
It prescribes devatā-sthāpana (ritual installation/placement) of specific protective deities—Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, Sudarśana—along with the Aśvins, Rudra, and Marut hosts, using a defined vaṭa-based arrangement in the ritual layout (mandala/nyāsa scheme).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s procedural cataloging of worship-technology—naming precise deities and giving a concrete placement method—showing how the text functions as a compendium of practical ritual engineering alongside its many other disciplines.
Installing these deities functions as a protective and purificatory safeguard for the rite—invoking rain/strength/health (Parjanya, Maruts, Aśvins) and fierce warding power (Rudra, Sudarśana)—thereby supporting obstacle-removal and ritual success (siddhi).