Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 3
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra and Related Details
Dīkṣā, Maṇḍala, Nyāsa, Japa, Homa, Siddhi, Mokṣa
वाह्ये वै कोष्ठकोणेषु वाह्यरेखाष्टकं स्मृतम् वाह्यकोष्ठस्य वाह्ये तु मध्ये यावत् समानयेत्
vāhye vai koṣṭhakoṇeṣu vāhyarekhāṣṭakaṃ smṛtam vāhyakoṣṭhasya vāhye tu madhye yāvat samānayet
ବାହ୍ୟ ବଳୟରେ କୋଷ୍ଠମାନଙ୍କ କୋଣରେ ‘ବାହ୍ୟ ଅଷ୍ଟରେଖା’ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ। ବାହ୍ୟତମ କୋଷ୍ଠର ବାହାରୁ ରେଖା ଟାଣି ଭିତରକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆଣିବେ।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the encyclopedic sections of the Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Drafting the outer ring geometry of a vastu/yantra diagram by placing corner points and drawing an outer set of eight guiding lines pulled inward to a central measure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāhya-rekhāṣṭaka: Outer Eight Guiding Lines in Maṇḍala Rekhā-vinyāsa","lookup_keywords":["vāhya-rekhā","aṣṭaka","koṣṭha-koṇa","rekhā-vinyāsa","maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"At the corners of the outer cells, establish eight outer guide-lines and draw them from the exterior boundary inward up to the middle reference, ensuring symmetry and correct centering."}
Concept: Rekhā (line) and madhya (center) as the governing principles of proportion; outer-to-inner drawing preserves cosmic order in built form.
Application: When drawing plans/yantras, fix outer corner references first, then pull lines to the central measure to avoid skew and asymmetry.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Maṇḍala-vidhi / Rekhā-vinyāsa for architectural diagrams)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A geometric diagram shows the outer ring of cells; at each corner, guide-lines are drawn and extended inward to meet a central midpoint marker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold geometric maṇḍala on a red-ochre ground, corner points emphasized, eight outer lines drawn inward to a central bindu, artisan holding measuring cord.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate border with gold, crisp white maṇḍala lines on dark ground, eight outer guide-lines highlighted with gold dots at corners, central midpoint luminous.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate-like composition, labeled corners and midpoints, thin precise lines showing the vāhya-rekhāṣṭaka converging toward the middle.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a workshop: draughtsman with compass and straightedge drawing an outer grid and eight guide-lines toward the center on a folio sheet."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाह्यरेखाष्टकम् → वाह्य-रेखा-अष्टकम्; कोष्ठकोणेषु → कोष्ठ-कोणेषु; समानयेत् is optative causative with सम्- + नी.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu rekhā-vinyāsa and maṇḍala-vidhi passages near 310.2–310.6; Agni Purana measurements (māna) discussions in Shilpa/Vāstu portions
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-maṇḍala drafting rule: how to place the ‘outer eight lines’ at the corners of the outer grid-cells and extend them inward up to the mid-measure, ensuring correct geometric alignment for architectural/ritual plans.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied sciences like Vāstu-śāstra. This verse is a practical micro-instruction for mandala geometry used in temple layouts, altars, and building plans—showing the text’s technical breadth.
Correct mandala-line placement is treated as dharmically important because it aligns construction/ritual space with sacred order; accuracy supports auspiciousness, stability, and the intended sanctity of the structure or altar.