Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 4
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
वर्तुलं भ्रामयित्वा तु पद्मक्षेत्रं पुरोदितम् पद्मार्धे भामयित्वा तु भागं द्वादशमं वहिः पृठिवीञ्च मनश् चैव श्रोत्रं त्वक् चक्षुरर्चयेत् रसनाञ्च तथा घ्राणं भूर्भुवश् चैव षोडशं
vartulaṃ bhrāmayitvā tu padmakṣetraṃ puroditam padmārdhe bhāmayitvā tu bhāgaṃ dvādaśamaṃ vahiḥ pṛṭhivīñca manaś caiva śrotraṃ tvak cakṣurarcayet rasanāñca tathā ghrāṇaṃ bhūrbhuvaś caiva ṣoḍaśaṃ
ਵਰਤੁਲ (ਗੋਲ) ਆਕਾਰ ਬਣਾਕੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੱਸੇ ਪਦਮ-ਖੇਤਰ ਦੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਕਰੇ। ਫਿਰ ਅੱਧੇ ਪਦਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਹਰ ਵੱਲ ਬਾਰ੍ਹਵਾਂ ਭਾਗ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਿਤ ਕਰੇ। ਪૃਥਵੀ ਅਤੇ ਮਨ; ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਤ੍ਰ, ਤ੍ਵਕ, ਚਕ੍ਸ਼ੁ; ਅਤੇ ਰਸਨਾ ਤੇ ਘ੍ਰਾਣ—ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਭੂಃ ਅਤੇ ਭੁਵಃ ਸਮੇਤ ਸੋਲ੍ਹਵੇਂ (ਸ਼ੋਡਸ਼) ਭਾਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਰਚਨਾ ਕਰੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Padma-kṣetra nyāsa and bhūta-śuddhi: mapping senses, mind, earth, and vyāhṛtis (Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ) into mandala divisions to purify the practitioner and ritual space.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padma-kṣetra nyāsa: indriya–manas–pṛthivī and Bhūḥ/Bhuvaḥ placement","lookup_keywords":["padma-kṣetra","bhūta-śuddhi","indriya","vyāhṛti","ṣoḍaśa"],"quick_summary":"After forming the circular lotus-field and marking divisions, worship/assign earth, mind, and the sense-organs, then place Bhūḥ and Bhuvaḥ in the sixteenth division—using the mandala as a purification map."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: indriyas and manas are ritually stationed; vyāhṛtis anchor consciousness across planes (bhūr/bhuvaḥ).
Application: Use this nyāsa as a pre-japa routine: consciously place attention on each sense and mind, then ‘seal’ with vyāhṛti remembrance to reduce distraction.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yantra–Mandala–Padma-kṣetra Nyāsa and Bhūta-śuddhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circular lotus mandala with marked divisions; symbolic offerings placed for earth, mind, and the five senses (ear, skin, eye, tongue, nose), with Bhūḥ and Bhuvaḥ inscribed in the sixteenth segment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down circular lotus mandala, each segment painted with symbolic icons (ear, eye, etc.), central calm atmosphere, inscriptions for Bhūḥ and Bhuvaḥ, warm mineral pigments and traditional border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate circular lotus diagram with gold highlights on segment lines, small embossed icons for indriyas and manas, Bhūḥ/Bhuvaḥ in bold script, rich red background and decorative floral frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional mandala: clean circular lotus with numbered segments, neatly drawn sense-icons and labels, practitioner placing flowers/incense at each segment, soft pastel washes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest drawing a circular lotus on paper, fine calligraphy for Bhūḥ/Bhuvaḥ, delicate symbolic motifs for senses around the rim, detailed interior setting with inkpots and ritual items"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pṛṭhivīñca = pṛthivīm ca; manaś caiva = manaḥ ca eva; cakṣurarcayet = cakṣuḥ arcayet; rasanāñca = rasanām ca; bhūrbhuvaś caiva = bhūḥ bhuvaḥ ca eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (padma-kṣetra construction; subsequent division/rotation and higher-loka inscriptions)
FAQs
It teaches padma-maṇḍala (lotus-diagram) layout with numbered sectors and the ritual placement/worship (arcana/nyāsa) of elements and sense-faculties—Earth, mind, and the five senses—along with the vyāhṛtis Bhūḥ and Bhuvaḥ.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology: mandala geometry (divisions like 12th and 16th sectors), tantric-style nyāsa of tattvas/indriyas, and mantra-loka mapping (Bhūḥ–Bhuvaḥ), showing the text’s manual-like coverage of ritual science.
By ritually sanctifying the body-mind complex (mind and senses) and grounding it in the elemental order (Earth and vyāhṛtis), the practitioner performs purification (bhūta-śuddhi) and gains steadiness and eligibility for higher worship within the mandala.