Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 71
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
चक्रपद्मादयो भेदा मण्डलस्य प्रभेदकाः एवञ्च सर्वतोभद्रो वज्राक्षवरकाकवत्
cakrapadmādayo bhedā maṇḍalasya prabhedakāḥ evañca sarvatobhadro vajrākṣavarakākavat
แบบแยกย่อยของมณฑละมีเช่น ‘จักระ’ และ ‘ปัทมะ’ และมณฑละ ‘สรวโตภัทร’ ก็พึงจัดในลักษณะตามแบบ ‘วัชรากษะ’ และ ‘วรกากะ’
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Designing ritual/architectural mandalas (cakra, padma, sarvatobhadra) for worship spaces, yantra layouts, consecrations, and protective diagrams.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-bheda: Cakra, Padma, Sarvatobhadra; Vajrākṣa and Varakāka patterns","lookup_keywords":["mandala bheda","cakra mandala","padma mandala","sarvatobhadra","vajraksha varakaka"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates key mandala subtypes (wheel, lotus) and indicates the all-auspicious sarvatobhadra layout patterned after vajrākṣa/varakāka designs for balanced, protective symmetry."}
Concept: Cosmic order is mirrored through geometry; correct form (maṇḍala) supports correct function (āvaraṇa, protection, auspiciousness).
Application: Choose cakra/padma for specific deity-āvaraṇa worship; use sarvatobhadra for all-direction protection in installations and thresholds.
Khanda Section: Vastu-vidya / Yantra-Mandala-Lakshana (Diagrammatic and architectural-ritual layouts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual architect draws mandalas on a prepared floor: a wheel (cakra), lotus (padma), and a perfectly balanced sarvatobhadra grid, annotated with vajrākṣa and varakāka pattern cues.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of a temple floor with bright geometric mandalas—cakra spokes and padma petals—priests with kalasha and lamps, thick outlines, ornamental borders, serene symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of a golden-highlighted lotus mandala with deity at center, rich jewel tones, embossed gold for petals and concentric rings, attendants and lamps around","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting as a clean technical plate: precise sarvatobhadra grid, labeled subtypes cakra/padma, fine linework, muted colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of artisans drafting a mandala on parchment and on floor, compasses and rulers, detailed textiles, top-down view of cakra and padma patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चक्रपद्मादयः = चक्र-पद्म-आदयः; एवञ्च = एवम् च; सर्वतोभद्रः अव्ययीभावसमासः; वज्राक्षवरकाकवत् = वज्र-आक्ष-वरकाक-वत् (उपमा ‘वत्’)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana mandala/yantra and vastu sections (within 241 and adjacent chapters on yantra, pratimā, and prāsāda-lakṣaṇa)
FAQs
It classifies mandala (ritual/architectural diagram) designs—such as Cakra and Padma—and indicates that Sarvatobhadra is constructed following established pattern-forms like Vajrākṣa and Varakāka.
Beyond theology, the text catalogs applied disciplines like Vastu and ritual geometry, preserving named design-typologies (mandala-bheda) used for altars, temple planning, and consecratory layouts.
Correctly forming auspicious mandalas (especially Sarvatobhadra) is traditionally held to stabilize the rite, invite benefic influences from all directions, and support purity and success (siddhi) of worship and consecration.