Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
वागीश्वरीपूजा
Worship of Vāgīśvarī
केशराणि विचित्राणि कोणान्रक्तेन पूरयेत् व्योमरेखान्तरं कृष्णं द्वाराणीन्द्रेभमानतः
keśarāṇi vicitrāṇi koṇānraktena pūrayet vyomarekhāntaraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ dvārāṇīndrebhamānataḥ
ਕੇਸਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਭਿੰਨ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਸੁੰਦਰਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਚਿਤਰੋ ਅਤੇ ਕੋਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲਾਲ ਰੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੋ। ‘ਵ੍ਯੋਮ-ਰੇਖਾ’ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰਲਾ ਅੰਤਰ ਕਾਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ। ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਇੰਦਰੈਭ-ਮਾਨ (ਨਿਰਧਾਰਿਤ ਮਾਪ) ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਰੱਖੇ ਜਾਣ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Color-coding and line-work for yantra/mandala or architectural diagram: decorate lotus filaments, apply red to corners, black between vyoma-rekhā, and set doors by a specified measurement standard.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yantra coloring rules: keśara decoration, red corners, black vyoma-rekhā interspaces, measured doors","lookup_keywords":["keśara","vyoma-rekhā","rakta koṇa","kṛṣṇa antara","dvāra māna"],"quick_summary":"Ornament the lotus filaments, color corners red, fill the interspaces between the sky-lines in black, and place doorways according to the prescribed measurement standard."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by correct visualization: line, color, and measure are parts of upāsanā through form (ākṛti).
Application: When drawing yantras/mandalas for worship or planning sacred space, follow fixed color/line conventions to maintain symbolic integrity.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Yantra–Maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa (Iconography & diagrammatic construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An artist-sthapati painting a lotus mandala: multicolored filaments, corners saturated red, black fill between thin 'sky-lines', and door positions marked with measured ticks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural scene of a temple floor yantra being painted: bold red corners, deep black interspaces between fine white/ochre lines, ornate keśara patterns, craftsmen with pigment bowls","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting focusing on the mandala: gold accents on lotus filaments, rich vermilion corners, glossy black interspaces, door frames highlighted with gold, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: step-by-step coloring—keśara patterns, red corner fills, black between vyoma-rekhā, door placement with measurement marks; delicate shading and clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a workshop: painters mixing red and black pigments, a precise mandala on paper with fine rekhā, doors indicated by measured notches; refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṇānraktena → कोणान् + रक्तेन. dvārāṇīndrebhamānataḥ is unclear; parsed as द्वाराणि + इन्द्र-इभ-मानतः (corrupt/technical term).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 318.7 (navapadma structure); Agni Purana 318.9 (deity-nyāsa within lotus)
FAQs
It gives precise vāstu/yantra instructions for finishing a maṇḍala: how to ornament the keśara-like strokes, which regions to fill with red or black, and how to proportion door/opening placements using a named canonical measurement standard.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical knowledge—here, diagrammatic drafting, pigment conventions, and proportional measurement—showing it functions as a practical handbook for ritual-architectural arts (vāstu, maṇḍala/yantra, iconographic layout).
Correct color-placement and proportion in a ritual diagram is treated as essential for the integrity of worship: accurate construction is believed to stabilize the intended deity-field, reduce ritual faults (doṣa), and support purity and efficacy of the rite.