Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 36
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
द्वारद्वादशकं दिक्षु त्रीणि त्रीणि यथाक्रमं षड्भिः परिलुप्यान्तर्मध्ये चत्वारि पार्श्वयोः
dvāradvādaśakaṃ dikṣu trīṇi trīṇi yathākramaṃ ṣaḍbhiḥ parilupyāntarmadhye catvāri pārśvayoḥ
ਚਾਰਾਂ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਰਾਂ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ-ਸਥਾਨ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਹਰ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਿੰਨ-ਤਿੰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਰੱਖੇ ਜਾਣ। ਛੇ ਸਥਾਨ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਅੰਦਰਲੇ ਮੱਧ ਅਤੇ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਪਾਸਿਆਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਚਾਰ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ਾ-ਸਥਾਨ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical of Agni Purāṇa instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Temple/building planning: deciding permissible door-locations on a mandala grid by direction, and selecting/omitting specific padas to achieve an auspicious and functional entrance scheme.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvāra-dvādaśaka: twelve door-sites by direction and selective omission","lookup_keywords":["dvāra-dvādaśaka","door-sites","mandala padas","directional layout","vāstu entrance"],"quick_summary":"Arrange twelve potential door-sites as three per side (by the four directions). From these, omit six specified positions and retain four inner-middle flank door-sites for the final entrance plan."}
Concept: Ritually and functionally ordered space (dik-vibhāga) as a means to auspiciousness and stability in built form.
Application: Use directional rules to reduce defects (doṣa) in entrances and to standardize temple/building circulation.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra (Temple/Architectural Planning and Mandala Layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple-plan mandala drawn as a square grid with the four directions marked; twelve candidate door positions shown as three per side, with six crossed out and four inner-middle flank positions highlighted.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural aesthetic, flat yet rich colors, a vāstu-maṇḍala grid on palm-leaf-like panel, directions personified as dikpālas at edges, highlighted door padas, clean linework, traditional ornament borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style, gold-leaf accents on the mandala border and directional markers, central square plan with door-sites indicated by gem-like dots, ornate frame, devotional architectural diagram feel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, precise instructional diagram of vāstu grid with labeled directions, subtle shading, clean calligraphic Sanskrit annotations for dvāra-padas, emphasis on clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect and sthapati seated with a drawn plan on paper, assistants pointing to door positions on a square mandala, fine detailing, muted palette, marginal notes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्वारद्वादशकं = द्वार-द्वादशकम्; परिलुप्यान्तर्मध्ये = परिलुप्य अन्तर्-मध्ये; यथाक्रमं = यथा-क्रमम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (Vāstu/maṇḍala and dvāra-vinyāsa context)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra rule for distributing twelve prescribed door-sites across the directions (three per side) and specifies that six positions are to be omitted, leaving four door-sites placed on the inner middle flanks—guidance used in mandala-based temple/house layout.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied technical knowledge—here, architectural planning (vāstu) with quantified layout rules for entrances, showing its role as a compendium of practical sciences alongside ritual and dharma.
Correct door placement is treated as harmonizing the building with directional forces (dik) and vāstu principles, supporting auspiciousness, stability, and ritual purity for inhabitants and for worship performed within the structure.