Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 42
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
दशसप्तविभक्ते तु लतालिङ्गोद्भवं शृणु दिक्षु पञ्चत्रयञ्चैकं त्रयं पञ्च च लोमयेत्
daśasaptavibhakte tu latāliṅgodbhavaṃ śṛṇu dikṣu pañcatrayañcaikaṃ trayaṃ pañca ca lomayet
ਸਤਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਲਤਾ-ਲਿੰਗ’ ਤੋਂ ਉਤਪੰਨ ਵਿਧੀ ਸੁਣੋ। ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੋਮ-ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਇਸ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਨਾਲ ਲਗਾਓ—ਪੰਜ, ਤਿੰਨ, ਇੱਕ; ਫਿਰ ਤਿੰਨ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜ ਵੀ।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional placement of loma/markings (nyāsa-like body or diagram strokes) according to a 17-fold division derived from a latā-liṅga sign, for constructing/activating a yantra or marking the body in ritual.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saptadaśa-vibhāga Loma-vinyāsa from Latā-liṅga","lookup_keywords":["saptadaśa-vibhāga","latā-liṅga","loma-vinyāsa","dik-vinyāsa","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Gives a rule for distributing loma-markings across directions in a specific numeric sequence (5-3-1 / 3-5), used to standardize ritual diagrammatics or body-marking."}
Concept: Śakti is ‘installed’ through ordered marks/placements; number and direction function as carriers of mantra-intent.
Application: Follow the prescribed directional counts to avoid ritual ‘doṣa’ (procedural fault) in yantra/nyāsa practice.
Khanda Section: Tantra / Yantra / Mantra-nyasa (Ritual diagrammatics and body-markings)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram with 17-part division and directional sectors, annotated with the sequence of loma-mark counts (5,3,1 then 3,5), with a creeper-like emblem (latā-liṅga) as the generating sign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priestly figure drawing a yantra on the floor with rice flour, directional petals marked with small hair-like strokes, creeper motif curling around the center, warm temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-embossed yantra on a wooden panel, directional compartments filled with raised dots/strokes indicating 5-3-1 and 3-5, ornate border of vine (latā) patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting as an instructional plate: clean geometric sectors, arrows to directions, numerals in Devanagari, subtle vine emblem at center, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a workshop: an adept instructs a student over a folio showing a 17-part diagram, fine vine arabesques echoing latā-liṅga, precise marginal notes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: latāliṅgodbhavam → latā-liṅga-udbhavam; pañcatrayañcaikaṃ → pañca-trayam ca ekam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 319 (tantra/yantra/nyāsa subsections)
FAQs
It gives a precise numeric layout for a latā-liṅga–based loma/line-marking pattern distributed by directions, using a 17-fold scheme (5–3–1–3–5).
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational tantric-ritual specifications—counting systems, directional allocation, and diagrammatic/body-marking rules—typical of the Agni Purana’s technical compendium style.
Directional and counted markings function as a consecratory alignment (nyāsa-like ordering) that ritually harmonizes the practitioner/space with the quarters, supporting purity, protection, and efficacy of the rite.