Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Tvaritājñānam
Knowledge of Tvaritā, the Swift Goddess) — Agni Purana, Adhyāya 314 (as introduced after 313
पूर्वादौ गायत्रीं यजेन्मण्डले वै प्रणीतया हुंकारां खेचरीं चण्डां छेदनीं क्षेपणींस्त्रियाः
pūrvādau gāyatrīṃ yajenmaṇḍale vai praṇītayā huṃkārāṃ khecarīṃ caṇḍāṃ chedanīṃ kṣepaṇīṃstriyāḥ
ପୂର୍ବ ଦିଗରୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରି, ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ବିଧିଅନୁସାରେ ମଣ୍ଡଳରେ ଗାୟତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା କରିବା; ଏବଂ ହୁଂକାରା, ଖେଚରୀ, ଚଣ୍ଡା, ଛେଦନୀ, କ୍ଷେପଣୀ ନାମକ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ-ଶକ୍ତିମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପୂଜା କରିବା।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Mandala-based worship of Gāyatrī beginning from the East, invoking attendant śaktis (Huṃkārā, Khecarī, Caṇḍā, Chedanī, Kṣepaṇī) as functional powers within the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gāyatrī Maṇḍala-Pūjā (East-First) with Five Śaktis","lookup_keywords":["Gayatri mandala","purvadau","Humkara","Khecari","Chedani"],"quick_summary":"Specifies the directional order (starting East) for Gāyatrī worship in a maṇḍala and lists five associated feminine powers to be honored as part of the ritual circuit."}
Concept: Mantra-deity is approached through spatial order (maṇḍala) and functional śaktis—power is systematized as a mapped practice.
Application: When performing Gāyatrī maṇḍala-pūjā, keep strict directional sequencing and treat each śakti as a specific function (invocation, movement, fierceness, cutting, casting) to structure attention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-sadhana (Tantric-Gayatri Mandala worship)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A geometric maṇḍala with Gāyatrī at the center; worship begins at the eastern gate, proceeding to honor five named śaktis placed around the diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: large yantra-like maṇḍala on floor, central Gāyatrī icon, priest starting at East with lamp, five śaktis as small attendant goddesses, bold outlines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Gāyatrī with gold leaf halo, maṇḍala rendered as ornate lotus geometry, east gate marked by sun motif, five śaktis in surrounding medallions.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear instructional diagram—maṇḍala with labeled east-first sequence arrows, central Gāyatrī, five śaktis in nodes, fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: indoor ritual with painted maṇḍala on cloth, sādhaka beginning at East, central Gāyatrī enthroned, five attendant śaktis in corners, delicate calligraphy labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘यजेन्मण्डले’ = यजेत् मण्डले (t + m → nm). ‘क्षेपणींस्त्रियाः’ = क्षेपणीम् स्त्रियाः (ṃ + s → ṃs). ‘पूर्वादौ’ treated as pūrvādi in locative used adverbially.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 313–314 (tvaritā-jñāna and related maṇḍala/nyāsa procedures); Agni Purana 312 (directional establishment motifs in Devi worship)
FAQs
It prescribes a directional sequence (starting from the east) for Gāyatrī-maṇḍala worship and names specific attendant śaktis (Huṃkārā, Khecarī, Caṇḍā, Chedanī, Kṣepaṇī) to be invoked as part of the rite.
Alongside mythology and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical ritual technologies—maṇḍala construction, directional worship order, and specialized śakti-mantra invocations—showing its breadth as a compendium of applied religious procedures.
Performing Gāyatrī worship in the prescribed maṇḍala and order is presented as a disciplined, purificatory practice that aligns the worshipper with mantra-śakti, supporting inner clarity and ritual efficacy (siddhi) through correct observance.