Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 39
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
पञ्चविंशतिकव्यूहे परं ब्रह्म यजेत् कजे मध्ये पूर्वादितः पद्मे वासुदेवादयः क्रमात्
pañcaviṃśatikavyūhe paraṃ brahma yajet kaje madhye pūrvāditaḥ padme vāsudevādayaḥ kramāt
இருபத்தைந்து-வ்யூஹ அமைப்பில் பரம்பிரம்மனை வழிபட வேண்டும். தாமரை-யந்திரத்தின் மையத்தில், கிழக்கு இதழிலிருந்து தொடங்கி, வாசுதேவர் முதலியவர்களை வரிசையாக நிறுவி பூஜிக்க வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pāñcarātra-style worship arrangement: placing and worshipping the 25-fold vyūha deities on a lotus mandala, starting from the eastern petal with Vāsudeva and proceeding क्रमात्.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcaviṃśatika-vyūha pūjā in padma-maṇḍala (Vāsudevaādi from east)","lookup_keywords":["pañcaviṃśatika vyūha","padma-maṇḍala","Vāsudeva","eastern petal","Pāñcarātra pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Worship the Supreme Brahman through the 25-fold vyūha arrangement. Install Vāsudeva and the subsequent forms on the lotus diagram beginning from the eastern petal in fixed sequence."}
Concept: Saguna-upāsanā as a structured approach to the Supreme (para-brahman) via vyūha-krama and mandala order.
Application: Use the lotus mandala as a ritual map: begin east, proceed in prescribed order to avoid mantra/nyāsa errors and to maintain sampradāyic correctness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Pancharatra/Vaishnava Vyuhas and Padma-mandala worship)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala with a central circle labeled ‘Para Brahman’; on the eastern petal sits Vāsudeva, with remaining petals filled by vyūha forms in clockwise order; a priest offers flowers/incense moving petal to petal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: large stylized lotus mandala, Vāsudeva on the east petal with conch-disc, other vyūhas on petals, priest performing ārati, saturated reds and greens, temple-wall composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central lotus with gold-leaf haloing each petal deity, Vāsudeva richly ornamented, embossed jewelry, lamps and offerings in foreground, opulent devotional finish","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean, symmetrical padma diagram with labeled petals, priest shown in profile placing flowers starting east, soft colors, emphasis on sequence and clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: indoor shrine scene with a painted lotus diagram on cloth, priest placing offerings in order, deities depicted as small iconic figures on petals, fine detailing and borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चविंशतिकव्यूहे = पञ्चविंशति-क-व्यूहे; वासुदेवादयः = वासुदेव-आदयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29 (padma-maṇḍala and vyūha-nyāsa sequence continuing into 29.40)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mandala-based worship method: arranging and worshipping the twenty-fivefold vyūha deities on a lotus-diagram, starting placement from the eastern petal and proceeding in a fixed sequence.
It preserves a precise, technical pūjā-vidhi (diagram layout, directional sequencing, deity-ordering) associated with Vaiṣṇava/Pañcarātra-style ritual systems—showing the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into applied liturgy and temple/mandala procedure.
By worshipping the Supreme through a correctly ordered vyūha-mandala, the practitioner aligns devotion with prescribed cosmic order (krama), which is traditionally held to increase ritual efficacy, purification, and the merit (puṇya) of the worship.