Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 45
Chapter 33 — पवित्रारोहणविधानं
The Procedure for Pavitrārohaṇa / Installing the Sacred Thread or Consecratory Amulet
शार्ङ्गञ्च मुषलं खड्गं वनमालाञ्च तद्वहिः इन्द्राद्याश् च तयानन्तो नैरृत्यां वरुणस्ततः
śārṅgañca muṣalaṃ khaḍgaṃ vanamālāñca tadvahiḥ indrādyāś ca tayānanto nairṛtyāṃ varuṇastataḥ
И следует (расположить/созерцать) лук Шārṅга, палицу (мушала), меч и лесную гирлянду; вне этого построения стоят Индра и прочие (божества сторон света). В том же порядке направлений Ананту помещают на юго‑западе (Найрритья), а затем — Варуну.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mandala-devatā-nyāsa in pūjā: placing/visualizing weapons and dikpālas in correct directions for protection and completeness of the ritual field.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mandala-nyāsa of Śārṅga and Dikpālas (Ananta in Nairṛtya, Varuṇa thereafter)","lookup_keywords":["mandala-nyasa","dikpala","Śārṅga","Ananta","Varuṇa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a directional placement scheme: install/visualize Viṣṇu’s emblems (bow, mace, sword, garland) and then station the directional deities in sequence, specifying Ananta in the south-west and Varuṇa next."}
Weapon Type: Bow (Śārṅga), mace/club (muṣala), sword (khaḍga)
Concept: Ritual space becomes a microcosm when dikpālas and divine emblems are correctly installed; order (krama) is itself protective.
Application: Use the specified directional schema during mandala drawing/nyāsa to avoid ritual faults (doṣa) and to establish kavaca-like protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mandala-devata-nyasa (Iconography and directional deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala around an altar: Śārṅga bow, club, sword, and forest garland placed as emblems; dikpālas stationed on the outer ring; Ananta marked in the south-west; Varuṇa placed next in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of a pūjā-mandala with vivid flat colors: Viṣṇu’s āyudhas (Śārṅga, club, sword, vanamālā) arranged on a circular yantra; dikpālas on the perimeter; Ananta serpent in the south-west corner; stylized lotus borders, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting showing a gold-embossed mandala altar with Viṣṇu’s emblems in relief; dikpālas in small niches around; Ananta in Nairṛtya with jeweled hood; Varuṇa with pāśa and makara emblem; rich reds and greens, heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: clean linework mandala diagram with labeled directions; icons for Śārṅga, club, sword, garland; outer ring with dikpāla figures; Ananta indicated in south-west; muted palette and delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a courtly ritualist arranging a mandala on a terrace; small detailed weapons/emblems placed on a diagram; dikpālas as tiny attendant deities around; Ananta serpent motif in the south-west; fine borders and calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śārṅgañca→śārṅgam+ca; vanamālāñca→vanamālām+ca; indrādyāś ca→indrādyāḥ+ca; tayānanto→tayā+anantaḥ; varuṇastataḥ→varuṇaḥ+tataḥ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 33 (pūjā-vidhi sections on mandala-devatā-nyāsa and dikpāla-krama)
FAQs
It gives a nyāsa/vinyāsa instruction: how to place or visualize Viṣṇu’s weapons and garland, and how to station dikpālas (Indra and others) with Ananta in the south-west and Varuṇa in the subsequent directional sequence.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical temple-ritual technology—mandala design, directional theology (dikpāla system), and iconographic mapping of Viṣṇu’s āyudhas—showing the text’s manual-like coverage of worship procedures.
Correct directional placement is treated as protective and purificatory: it sacralizes space, invokes guardianship of the quarters, and supports ritual efficacy (siddhi) by aligning worship with cosmic order (dik and devatā).