Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 10
Chapter 264 — Dikpālādi-snāna
Bathing rites for the Dikpālas and associated deities
स्नानमण्डलकान् दिक्षु कुर्याच्चैव विदिक्षु च विष्णुब्रह्मेशशक्रादींस्तदस्त्राण्यर्च्य होमयेत्
snānamaṇḍalakān dikṣu kuryāccaiva vidikṣu ca viṣṇubrahmeśaśakrādīṃstadastrāṇyarcya homayet
ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಉಪದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸ್ನಾನಮಂಡಲಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಬೇಕು. ವಿಷ್ಣು, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ, ಈಶ (ಶಿವ), ಶಕ್ರ (ಇಂದ್ರ) ಮೊದಲಾದವರನ್ನು ಅವರ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಮಂತ್ರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪೂಜಿಸಿ, ನಂತರ ಹೋಮ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Construct snāna-maṇḍalas in eight directions; worship major deities and their astra-presences, then perform homa as an offering sequence integrating dikpāla/devatā-arcana with fire-rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-maṇḍala in eight directions and astra-inclusive homa","lookup_keywords":["snāna-maṇḍala","dik-vidik","astra-arcana","homa","Viṣṇu-Brahmā-Īśa-Śakra"],"quick_summary":"Set bathing-circles in cardinal and intermediate directions; worship Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Īśa, Śakra and others along with their astras, then complete the sequence by offering into fire (homa)."}
Weapon Type: Astra (divine weapon principles) as ritualized presences rather than physical arms
Concept: Ritual completeness through spatial totality (eight directions) and energetic completeness (deity + astra) culminating in agni-offering.
Application: When performing pūjā with homa, do not omit intermediate directions or astra-arcana; treat them as protective and empowering components of the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana-maṇḍala, Dikpāla/Devārcana and Homa procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual hall with eight snāna-circles marked around a central space; priest worships Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Śiva, Indra with symbolic weapons nearby, then pours offerings into a blazing homa fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; circular snāna-maṇḍalas in eight directions around a central homa-kuṇḍa; deities indicated in each sector; priest offering ghee; stylized flames and geometric precision.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; central homa fire with gold highlights; surrounding eight circles with small deity emblems; Viṣṇu/Brahmā/Śiva/Indra prominently framed; ornate ritual vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style diagrammatic clarity; top-down view of eight-direction layout; labeled dik/vidik circles; sequence arrows leading to homa-kuṇḍa; priest figure at the south performing āhuti.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; indoor yajña scene with attendants; chalked circles on floor; priest worshipping icons and weapon emblems; detailed fire altar and offerings."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याच्चैव = कुर्यात् + च + एव; विष्णुब्रह्मेशशक्रादींस्तदस्त्राण्यर्च्य = विष्णुब्रह्मेशशक्रादीन् + तत् + अस्त्राणि + अर्च्य; तदस्त्राणि = तत् + अस्त्राणि; अस्त्राण्यर्च्य = अस्त्राणि + अर्च्य
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: homa-vidhi and agni-kārya chapters; Agni Purāṇa: dikpāla/devatā-arcana sequences
FAQs
It teaches a procedural step in pūjā-vidhi: arranging snāna-maṇḍalas in both cardinal and intercardinal directions, then worshipping key deities (Vishnu, Brahmā, Śiva, Indra, etc.) along with their astra-mantras, followed by homa.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s manual-like coverage of ritual technology—mandala layout, directional (dik/vidik) structuring, deity-and-astra associations, and fire-offering praxis—showing the text functioning as a compact ritual handbook alongside its many other disciplines.
By sanctifying space in all directions and invoking deities with protective astra-mantras before homa, the rite aims at purification, removal of obstacles, and establishment of ritual protection (rakṣā) so the ceremony yields auspicious merit (puṇya).