Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 29
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
कमलानि पुनर्वीथ्यै परितः परिमृज्य तु द्वे द्वे मध्यमकोष्ठे तु ग्रीवार्थं दिक्षु लोपयेत् चिन्तया रहितं रूपमैश्वरं परिकीर्तितम् हृत्पुण्डरीकनिलयञ्चैतन्यं ज्योतिरव्ययम्
kamalāni punarvīthyai paritaḥ parimṛjya tu dve dve madhyamakoṣṭhe tu grīvārthaṃ dikṣu lopayet cintayā rahitaṃ rūpamaiśvaraṃ parikīrtitam hṛtpuṇḍarīkanilayañcaitanyaṃ jyotiravyayam
மீண்டும் ‘வீதி’க்காகச் சுற்றிலும் தாமரைச் சக்கரங்களை வரைந்து, சுற்றுப்பரப்பை மென்மையாக்க வேண்டும். நடுக் கோஷ்டகத்தில் ‘க்ரீவா’ (கழுத்து அமைப்பு) உருவாக திசைகளில் இரண்டிரண்டாகக் குறிகளை அழிக்க வேண்டும். சிந்தனை அற்ற ரூபமே ஐஸ்வர (ஈசுவரிய) ரூபம் எனப் புகழப்படுகிறது—இதயத் தாமரையில் உறையும் தூய சைதன்யம், அழியாத ஒளி।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Yoga and Inner Ritual (Agneya-vidya / Dhyana-yoga / Antaryaga)","practical_application":"Gives a concrete visualization-editing method (lotus circles, smoothing, selective erasure to form ‘neck’) culminating in contemplation of the thought-free īśvara-rūpa in the heart-lotus as imperishable light.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛt-puṇḍarīka dhyāna: lotus-maṇḍala refinement and aiśvara acintya-rūpa","lookup_keywords":["hrtpundarika","lotus-mandala","griva-nirmana","aisvara-rupa","caitanya-jyotis"],"quick_summary":"Refine the lotus-diagram by smoothing and erasing marks to shape the form, then meditate on the Lord’s form as free from discursive thought—pure consciousness and imperishable light dwelling in the heart-lotus."}
Concept: Īśvara as caitanya-jyotis (conscious light) realized when discursive thought is relinquished.
Application: Use precise visualization to steady attention, then drop conceptualization to abide as luminous awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yoga-Dhyana (Inner-lotus meditation and īśvara-rūpa contemplation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-mandala is refined; in the center, marks are erased to shape a ‘neck’ motif; within the heart-lotus shines an imperishable light representing the Lord beyond thought.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized heart-lotus with concentric petals, artisan-like hands smoothing the mandala, central negative-space ‘neck’ shape, a white-gold flame of consciousness in the lotus core.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate lotus with heavy gold work, central cut-out neck-like motif, radiant gem-studded aura for caitanya-jyotis, devotional yet abstract representation of īśvara.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, step-by-step panels: draw lotus circles, smooth perimeter, erase two-by-two in directions, final heart-lotus with steady light; clear didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a meditator visualizing a lotus diagram hovering before him, delicate erasures forming the neck motif, central luminous point as imperishable light, fine border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: punarvīthyai = punar + vīthyai; rūpamaiśvaram = rūpam + aiśvaram; nilayañcaitanyam = nilayam + caitanyam (anusvāra/ñ-sandhi in transmission).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.26 (cintāmaya vs acintya); Agni Purana 29.28 (mandala components); Agni Purana 29.30 (bīja and lamp-in-pot simile)
FAQs
It gives a precise procedural instruction for refining a lotus-based diagram/visualization (smoothing the perimeter and omitting marks ‘two by two’ in the directions in the central compartment) and then fixes the contemplative target as the aiśvara form—pure consciousness as imperishable light in the heart-lotus.
It combines practical ritual-technical detail (diagram/icon formation logic such as central compartments and directional omissions) with yoga-philosophical doctrine (Īśvara as caitanya-jyotis), showing how the text spans both applied ritual craft and inner contemplative metaphysics.
By shifting attention from constructed imagery to the thought-free aiśvara radiance in the heart-lotus, the practice aims at purification of mind and stabilization in imperishable consciousness, which is presented as the spiritually highest fruit of the procedure.