Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
षट्त्रिंशत्कोष्ठकैः पद्मं पीठं पङ्क्त्यावहिर्भवेत् द्वाभ्यान्तु वीथिका तस्माद् द्वाभ्यां द्वाराणि दिक्षु च इन्द्रादींश् च द्वितीयायां पद्मे षोडशके तथा सामाथर्वाणमाकाशं वायुं तेजस् तथा जलं
ṣaṭtriṃśatkoṣṭhakaiḥ padmaṃ pīṭhaṃ paṅktyāvahirbhavet dvābhyāntu vīthikā tasmād dvābhyāṃ dvārāṇi dikṣu ca indrādīṃś ca dvitīyāyāṃ padme ṣoḍaśake tathā sāmātharvāṇamākāśaṃ vāyuṃ tejas tathā jalaṃ
ಮೂವತ್ತಾರು ಕೋಷ್ಠಗಳಿಂದ ಪೀಠರೂಪ ಪದ್ಮವನ್ನು ವಿನ್ಯಸಿಸಿ, ಹೊರಗೆ ಸಾಲುಗಳಾಗಿ ಗಡಿ ಇರಲಿ. ನಂತರ ಎರಡು ಕೋಷ್ಠಗಳು ವೀಥಿಕಾ (ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣಾ ಮಾರ್ಗ) ಆಗಲಿ, ಮತ್ತು ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಡು-ಎರಡು ಕೋಷ್ಠಗಳು ದ್ವಾರಗಳಿಗೆ ನಿಗದಿಯಾಗಲಿ. ಎರಡನೇ ಪದ್ಮದ ಹದಿನಾರು ವಿಭಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದ್ರಾದಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಬೇಕು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಸಾಮ ಮತ್ತು ಅಥರ್ವ ವೇದಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ತತ್ತ್ವಗಳು—ಆಕಾಶ, ವಾಯು, ತೇಜಸ್ (ಅಗ್ನಿ), ಜಲ—ಇವನ್ನೂ ವಿನ್ಯಸಿಸಬೇಕು।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s technical instructions to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Constructing a 36-koṣṭha padma-maṇḍala pīṭha with vīthikā and directional gateways; assigning dikpālas, Vedas, and mahābhūtas to specific lotus-rings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padma-maṇḍala pīṭha: 36 compartments, vīthikā, dvāra, and devatā/mahābhūta placement","lookup_keywords":["ṣaṭtriṃśat-koṣṭha","pīṭha","vīthikā","dvāra","mahābhūta"],"quick_summary":"Lay out a 36-compartment lotus pedestal with an outer boundary, provide a circumambulatory aisle and directional gateways, then place Indra and other deities, the Sāma/Atharva divisions, and the elements (ākāśa, vāyu, tejas, jala) in the prescribed lotus set."}
Concept: Built form as cosmology: deities, śruti-divisions, and bhūtas are spatially coordinated to support worship and circumambulation.
Application: Use the koṣṭha counts and ring allocations when drafting altar/temple bases so circulation (vīthikā) and access (dvāra) harmonize with devatā placements.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Mandala-Vastu (Temple & altar layout; padma-maṇḍala planning)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-based architectural plan: 36 compartments forming the pīṭha, an outer boundary, a two-compartment-wide circumambulatory aisle, and directional gateways; icons for Indra and other deities, plus symbols for Sāma/Atharva and the elements (space, wind, fire, water).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down temple-plan mandala with lotus petals, highlighted vīthikā ring and four dvāras, small dikpāla figures in vivid colors, elemental symbols in corners, ornate traditional border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gilded lotus pedestal diagram with embossed gold lines for rings and gates, central medallion, miniature deity emblems (Indra etc.), decorative inscriptions for Sāma/Atharva and bhūtas, rich saturated palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, technical drawing aesthetic: precise 36-koṣṭha grid over lotus, clear labeling of vīthikā and dvāra widths, neat icons for deities and elements, instructional clarity with soft washes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, master architect and priest reviewing a lotus-plan scroll, fine geometric rendering of compartments and gates, delicate calligraphy naming Indra, Sāma, Atharva, ākāśa/vāyu/tejas/jala, refined courtly setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaṭtriṃśatkoṣṭhakaiḥ = ṣaṭtriṃśat-koṣṭhakaiḥ; paṅktyāvahirbhavet = paṅktyā vahiḥ bhavet; dvābhyāntu = dvābhyām tu; indrādīṃś = indrādīn; sāmātharvāṇam = sāma-ātharvāṇam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (preceding square-plot Sarvatobhadra; following bhūta-śuddhi and padma-kṣetra nyāsa)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu/maṇḍala specification: a 36-cell lotus grid for the pedestal, allocating cells for the outer boundary, a two-cell vīthikā (aisle), directional gateways, and the placement (nyāsa) of Indra and related deities plus Vedic and elemental principles.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical knowledge—here, architectural planning and ritual diagramming (mandala design, measurements, and deity-placement rules), showing its role as a compendium of practical śāstric disciplines.
Correct maṇḍala proportions and devatā-nyāsa are treated as essential for consecration purity: they harmonize the shrine with directional powers, Vedic authority, and the elements, supporting auspiciousness and the efficacy of worship.