Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 12
Chapter 264 — Dikpālādi-snāna
Bathing rites for the Dikpālas and associated deities
अमोघश्चित्रभानुश् च पर्जन्यो ऽथ सुदर्शनः स्थापयेत्तु वटानेनान् साश्विरुद्रमरुद्गणान्
amoghaścitrabhānuś ca parjanyo 'tha sudarśanaḥ sthāpayettu vaṭānenān sāśvirudramarudgaṇān
‘ਅਮੋਘ’, ‘ਚਿਤ੍ਰਭਾਨੁ’, ‘ਪਰਜਨ੍ਯ’ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ‘ਸੁਦਰਸ਼ਨ’—ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਵਟ-ਵਿਨਿਆਸ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰੇ; ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਅਸ਼ਵਿਨੀ-ਜੁੜਵਾਂ, ਰੁਦ੍ਰ ਅਤੇ ਮਰੁਦ-ਗਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devata-nyāsa/installation: place Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, Sudarśana in the specified vaṭa-arrangement, along with Aśvins, Rudra, and Marut hosts—forming a protective and energizing deity-grid.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaṭa-arrangement installation of Amogha–Citrabhānu–Parjanya–Sudarśana with Aśvins, Rudra, Maruts","lookup_keywords":["devatā-sthāpana","vaṭa-vyūha","Sudarśana","Parjanya","Marut-gaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Install a set of deities—Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, and Sudarśana—according to the vaṭa layout, together with the Aśvins, Rudra, and Maruts, to complete the mandala’s protective and functional pantheon."}
Weapon Type: Chakra (Sudarśana) as weapon-deity
Concept: Ritual space is animated by installing functional powers (weather, vitality, protection, weapon-energy) as an integrated āvaraṇa (enclosure).
Application: In mandala worship, include auxiliary deities/hosts (gaṇas) and weapon-deities to create a complete protective circuit rather than worshipping only the principal deity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-nyasa and Mandala-sthapana (installation of deities in ritual layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala layout where multiple deities are installed in a vaṭa-pattern: Sudarśana as radiant chakra-person, Parjanya as rain-bearing deity, Rudra with Marut hosts in dynamic formation, and the twin Aśvins near the periphery; the priest performs nyāsa gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; energetic Marut-gaṇas swirling like wind around the mandala; Rudra central among them; Parjanya with rain clouds; Sudarśana as fiery circular chakra-person; Aśvins as twin youthful healers; symmetrical vaṭa-pattern geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style; Sudarśana rendered with gold radiance and concentric chakra rings; Parjanya with cloud motifs; Rudra and Maruts in ornate halos; Aśvins as twin figures; heavy gold work emphasizing protective aura.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; clear schematic of vaṭa-arrangement with deity placements labeled; refined figures for Aśvins, Rudra, Maruts, Parjanya; Sudarśana highlighted as weapon-deity; instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; courtly precision applied to ritual scene; priest installing deities in a patterned floor diagram; Maruts depicted as swift attendants; Parjanya with cloud-and-rain icon; Sudarśana as luminous disc figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमोघश्चित्रभानुश् = अमोघः + चित्रभानुः; पर्जन्योऽथ = पर्जन्यः + अथ; स्थापयेत्तु = स्थापयेत् + तु; वटानेनान् = वटानेन + एनान्; साश्विरुद्रमरुद्गणान् = स + अश्वि + रुद्र + मरुद्गणान्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: āvaraṇa-devatā and nyāsa/mandala-sthāpana passages; Agni Purāṇa: Sudarśana/astrārcana-related instructions in pūjā-homa contexts
FAQs
It prescribes devatā-sthāpana (ritual installation/placement) of specific protective deities—Amogha, Citrabhānu, Parjanya, Sudarśana—along with the Aśvins, Rudra, and Marut hosts, using a defined vaṭa-based arrangement in the ritual layout (mandala/nyāsa scheme).
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s procedural cataloging of worship-technology—naming precise deities and giving a concrete placement method—showing how the text functions as a compendium of practical ritual engineering alongside its many other disciplines.
Installing these deities functions as a protective and purificatory safeguard for the rite—invoking rain/strength/health (Parjanya, Maruts, Aśvins) and fierce warding power (Rudra, Sudarśana)—thereby supporting obstacle-removal and ritual success (siddhi).