Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Chapter 290 — गजशान्तिः
Gaja-śānti: Elephant-Pacification Rite
महाभूतानि कोणेषु ऐशान्यादिषु संयजेत् पद्मं चक्रं गदां शङ्खं चतुरश्रन्तु मण्डलं
mahābhūtāni koṇeṣu aiśānyādiṣu saṃyajet padmaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ śaṅkhaṃ caturaśrantu maṇḍalaṃ
ఈశాన (ఉత్తర-తూర్పు) మొదలైన కోణదిశలలో మహాభూతాలను విధివిధానంగా స్థాపించాలి. మండలం చతురస్రం (చతుర్భుజ/చతురస్రాకారం)గా ఉండి, అందులో పద్మం, చక్రం, గద, శంఖం ప్రతిష్ఠించబడాలి/అంకితమవాలి.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, the typical frame of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Designing and ritually installing a square mandala with directional placement (dik-nyasa) of mahābhūtas and auspicious emblems for temple/altar consecration and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mahābhūta-dik-nyāsa in square mandala with padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha","lookup_keywords":["mahābhūta","dik-nyāsa","īśāna","caturasra maṇḍala","padma cakra gadā śaṅkha"],"quick_summary":"Install the five great elements in the corner-directions starting from Īśāna (NE) and draw a square mandala marked with lotus, discus, mace, and conch as protective and auspicious emblems."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm mapping: elements and divine emblems are stabilized in space through dik-nyāsa to harmonize the ritual field.
Application: Use directional placement to reduce ritual faults (doṣa) and to ‘seal’ the space with auspicious symbols before worship/pratiṣṭhā.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Mandala-nyasa (Directional installation of elements and emblems)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square ritual mandala on the ground, with corner-direction labels beginning at the northeast, and four Vaiṣṇava emblems (lotus, discus, mace, conch) placed on/within the diagram; priests preparing for installation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, square mandala on floor with NE marked as Īśāna, stylized padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha in the four quadrants, priests in white dhoti performing nyāsa, sacred geometry emphasis","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, square mandala bordered in ornate gold, luminous padma-cakra-gadā-śaṅkha emblems, temple interior setting, rich reds and greens, devotional auspiciousness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional depiction of caturasra maṇḍala with labeled directions and corner placements, minimal background, focus on diagram accuracy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a courtyard with a precise square mandala, attendants placing emblems at corners, fine geometric detailing, delicate palette, marginal notes indicating directions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: aiśānyādiṣu = aiśānya-ādiṣu; caturaśrantu interpreted as caturaśram + tu (common sandhi/orthographic joining).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu-vidyā sections on maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa, dik-nyāsa, and pratiṣṭhā-vidhi (surrounding verses in adhyāya 290)
FAQs
It teaches mandala-nyāsa: placing the pañca-mahābhūtas in the corner-directions starting from Īśāna (NE) and marking a square mandala with the four Vaiṣṇava emblems—padma, cakra, gadā, and śaṅkha.
Beyond myth and theology, it preserves applied ritual-technical knowledge—Vastu/yantra geometry and directional assignments—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium that includes temple/mandala design and procedural worship methods.
Correct directional installation and emblem-marking of the mandala is held to harmonize the elements, purify the ritual space, and align worship with cosmic order (ṛta), supporting merit (puṇya) and ritual efficacy (siddhi).