Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 47 — शालग्रामादिपूजाकथनं
Teaching the Worship of Śālagrāma and Related Sacred Forms
पूर्ववत् षोडशारञ्च सपद्मं मण्डलं लिखेत् शङ्खचक्रगदाखड्गैर् गुर्वाद्यं पूर्ववद्यजेत्
pūrvavat ṣoḍaśārañca sapadmaṃ maṇḍalaṃ likhet śaṅkhacakragadākhaḍgair gurvādyaṃ pūrvavadyajet
ดังที่กล่าวไว้ก่อน พึงเขียนมณฑลมีซี่สิบหก พร้อมดอกบัว และด้วยสัญลักษณ์สังข์ จักร คทา และดาบ พึงบูชาโดยเริ่มจากครู ตามที่กำหนดไว้ก่อนหน้านั้นโดยเคร่งครัด
Lord Agni (instructional narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Construct a ritual maṇḍala (sixteen-spoked with lotus) and perform āvaraṇa-style worship beginning with guru, using Vaiṣṇava emblems (śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, khaḍga) as identifiers/offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśāra-padma-maṇḍala and Vaiṣṇava-āyudha-upacāra","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśāra","padma-maṇḍala","śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-khaḍga","guru-pūjā","āvaraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Draw a sixteen-spoked lotus maṇḍala and worship in the prescribed order starting from the guru-principle, employing the conch, discus, mace, and sword as ritual emblems for the rite."}
Weapon Type: Chakra; Sword; Mace (Gadā)
Concept: Yantra/maṇḍala as a support (ālambana) for focused worship; guru-first order safeguards transmission and correctness.
Application: When performing Vaiṣṇava yantra-pūjā, first establish the diagram precisely, then proceed with guru-krama and emblem-based offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yantra-Mandala-Lekhana (Ritual diagram and worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Ritual space (maṇḍala-bhūmi)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual floor diagram: a lotus with sixteen spokes; around it are placed or visualized the conch, discus, mace, and sword; the worship begins with the guru seat at the head of the arrangement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down stylized lotus maṇḍala with sixteen spokes, bold outlines, ritual implements (śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, khaḍga) arranged symmetrically, priest offering flowers at the guru position, lamp-lit sanctum feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate golden lotus maṇḍala with sixteen radiating spokes, embossed gold on chakra and conch, rich reds and greens, central altar with guru-pādukā, decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise instructional depiction of the ṣoḍaśāra-padma diagram, clean geometry, labeled emblems at cardinal points, soft colors, emphasis on clarity of spokes and lotus petals.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan drawing a geometric lotus diagram on the floor with chalk, attendants holding conch and sword, detailed textiles and brass trays, delicate shading and fine linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षोडशारञ्च = षोडशारम् + च; शङ्खचक्रगदाखड्गैर् = ... + ऐः (र्-आदेशः); पूर्ववद्यजेत् = पूर्ववत् + यजेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 47 (earlier 'pūrvavat' procedures for guru-ādi worship and maṇḍala rules)
FAQs
It teaches mandala-vidhi: drawing a sixteen-spoked mandala with a lotus (sapadma) and performing worship in a fixed sequence starting with the Guru, using/placing the Vishnu-style emblems (conch, discus, mace, sword) as ritual identifiers.
Beyond myth, it preserves practical liturgical technology—diagram construction (mandala), iconographic standards (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-khaḍga), and procedural worship order (guru-ādi)—showing the text’s coverage of ritual science alongside other disciplines.
By following the prescribed mandala and worship-sequence “as before,” the rite is performed with correctness (vidhi), which is traditionally held to ensure purity, efficacy of the invocation, and the intended religious merit (puṇya) of the worship.