Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 38
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
प्राग्वच्च पञ्च ब्रह्माणि बुद्ध्याधारमतो वदे शतभागे तिथिभागे पद्मं लिङ्गाष्टकं दिशि
prāgvacca pañca brahmāṇi buddhyādhāramato vade śatabhāge tithibhāge padmaṃ liṅgāṣṭakaṃ diśi
ಹಿಂದಿನಂತೆ ಐದು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಮಂತ್ರಗಳು) ವಿನ್ಯಾಸಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು; ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಧ್ಯಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಬುದ್ಧ್ಯಾಧಾರವನ್ನು ನಾನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಶತಭಾಗ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ತಿಥಿಭಾಗ ವಿಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪದ್ಮಮಂಡಲವನ್ನು ಅಳವಡಿಸಿ, ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲಿಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Mandala/linga installation protocol: placing pañca-brahma mantras, defining dhyāna-ādhāra, and positioning eight liṅgas directionally within a measured lotus diagram.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañca-brahma vinyāsa and liṅga-aṣṭaka dik-sthāpana in padma-maṇḍala","lookup_keywords":["pañca-brahma","ādhāra","padma-maṇḍala","liṅga-aṣṭaka","tithi-bhāga"],"quick_summary":"Establish the pañca-brahma mantra foundation, construct a precisely divided lotus mandala (hundred-part/tithi-based divisions), and place eight liṅgas in the directions as the meditative and ritual support."}
Concept: Meditation (dhyāna) requires an ādhāra: mantra (pañca-brahma) + measured sacred geometry (padma-maṇḍala) + directional embodiment (liṅga-aṣṭaka).
Application: For consecration and advanced pūjā, integrate mantra-nyāsa with exact spatial division to stabilize visualization and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Linga-Puja and Mandala-Vidhi (Iconography & Ritual Diagram Instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala divided into fine measured parts; pañca-brahma mantras inscribed/placed as the base; eight liṅgas positioned in the eight directions around the center, forming a meditative support diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large stylized padma-maṇḍala with fine grid divisions, mantra syllables around, eight small liṅgas at cardinal and intercardinal points, priest indicating ādhāra for dhyāna, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central lotus mandala with gold-leaf radiance, eight liṅgas around, pañca-brahma inscriptions in decorative cartouches, temple sanctum ambiance, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: hundred-part division lines, tithi markers, labeled directions, eight liṅgas placed precisely, instructional aesthetic with elegant colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a ritual diagram on a cloth, calligraphic mantra labels, eight liṅgas as small black stone forms, attendants holding measuring cords, meticulous detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prāgvacca = prākvat ca; buddhyādhāramato = buddhi-ādhāram ataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana earlier mention of pañca-brahma and ādhāra ("prāgvat") within the same pūjā/maṇḍala sequence
FAQs
It gives mandala-vidhi: how to construct a lotus-diagram (padma-maṇḍala) using precise divisions (hundred-part and tithi-based measures) and how to position the liṅga-aṣṭaka (eight liṅgas) in the directional quarters as part of Śaiva worship.
It preserves practical temple-ritual technology—diagrammatic geometry (maṇḍala), mantra-sets (pañcabrahma), calendrical ritual timing (tithi), and iconographic placement rules—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s role as a compact manual of applied religious sciences.
Correct directional and diagrammatic placement is treated as aligning worship with cosmic order (dik and kāla), making the liṅga-pūjā ‘properly installed’ in meditation and ritual, thereby enhancing purity, concentration, and the merit (puṇya) of the observance.