Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 46
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
हिरण्या वनका रक्ता कृष्णा तदनु सुप्रभा अतिरिक्ता बहुरूपा रुद्रेन्द्राग्न्याप्यदिङ्मुखा
hiraṇyā vanakā raktā kṛṣṇā tadanu suprabhā atiriktā bahurūpā rudrendrāgnyāpyadiṅmukhā
นางมีสีทอง อยู่ในพงไพร มีสีแดงและสีดำ; ต่อมามีรัศมีรุ่งโรจน์ยิ่ง; งามเกินประมาณ มีรูปหลากหลาย; และหันพระพักตร์ไปทางรุทระ อินทระ อัคนี ตลอดจนทิศทั้งปวง
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Identifying Devī’s avaraṇa/attendant forms by color, habitat/quality, and directional/elemental facing for correct placement in pūjā and maṇḍala.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Devī Avaraṇa: Color-Forms and Directional Faces","lookup_keywords":["devi-avarana","varna-bheda","dikmukha","rudra-indra-agni","bahurupa"],"quick_summary":"Describes multiple forms of the goddess by hues and qualities and links her orientation to deities/directions, guiding correct avaraṇa-nyāsa and maṇḍala arrangement."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: The divine manifests as many forms (bahurūpatā) mapped onto directions and powers for ritual integration.
Application: While arranging avaraṇa-devatās, match color/orientation attributes to the correct quadrant and presiding deity to avoid placement errors.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-avarana (Devi forms and directional/elemental associations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A multi-aspect Devī shown in successive color-forms—golden, red, black, radiant—arranged around a maṇḍala, each facing a direction associated with Rudra, Indra, and Agni.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular maṇḍala with Devī in four color aspects at cardinal points, each with distinct aura, subtle presence of Rudra/Indra/Agni symbols in corresponding directions, bold flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Devī with surrounding smaller Devī aspects in gold/red/black/radiant tones, heavy gold leaf halos, directional lotuses, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic maṇḍala with labeled directions and deity-faces, Devī aspects color-coded, fine linework and gentle shading for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-courtyard maṇḍala scene, multiple Devī manifestations in distinct garments/colors, directional banners indicating deities, intricate detailing and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदनु → तत् + अनु; रुद्रेन्द्राग्न्याप्यदिङ्मुखा → रुद्र + इन्द्र + अग्नि + आपी + आदि + दिङ् + मुखा (समास/सन्धि-समुच्चय).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (devatā-āvaraṇa and dik-devatā mapping context)
FAQs
It encodes deity-identification cues used in worship—color (gold/red/black), radiance, multiplicity of forms, and directional orientation—helping place or invoke the Devi and associated deities within an avaraṇa/dik framework.
Alongside narrative material, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical and iconographic taxonomies—how to recognize, visualize, and position divine powers by attributes like color, form, and direction—bridging theology with applied ritual procedure.
Correctly visualizing and orienting the deity in worship is treated as ensuring ritual completeness (saṃpūrṇatā), supporting purification and merit by aligning the practitioner with cosmic order (dik and devatā-sambandha).