Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 22
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
वृषो वृषधरो वीर्यो ग्रसनः सर्वतोमुखः लोहितश् चैव विज्ञेया दश रुद्राः फणिस्थिताः
vṛṣo vṛṣadharo vīryo grasanaḥ sarvatomukhaḥ lohitaś caiva vijñeyā daśa rudrāḥ phaṇisthitāḥ
จงทราบว่าเหล่านี้คือรุดระสิบองค์ผู้สถิตบนพญานาคเศษะ: วฤษภะ วฤษภธระ วีรยะ กรสนะ สรรวโตมุขะ และโลหิต
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Recite/visualize the ten Rudras as cosmic stabilizers stationed on Śeṣa; supports meditative mapping of Rudra powers and protective invocation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Daśa Rudrāḥ on Śeṣa: Vṛṣa–Vṛṣadhara–Vīrya–Grasana–Sarvatomukha–Lohita","lookup_keywords":["Daśa Rudra","Śeṣa","Sarvatomukha","Lohita","Vṛṣadhara"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates Rudra-forms positioned upon the cosmic serpent Śeṣa; useful as a cosmological roster and as a visualization set in Shaiva worship."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (garland of names)
Concept: Multiplicity of Rudra powers within one cosmic order; dissolution/protection functions distributed as named aspects.
Application: Dhyāna practice: contemplate each epithet as a function—vīrya (power), grasana (reabsorption), sarvatomukha (all-pervasive awareness)—to internalize cosmic processes as inner disciplines.
Khanda Section: Rudra-Nama-Varnana (Shaiva cosmology and deity epithets)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Cosmic locus
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The cosmic serpent Śeṣa with multiple hoods, upon which stand or emanate Rudra forms—some red (Lohita), one multi-faced (Sarvatomukha), one with bull emblem (Vṛṣadhara)—arranged as a tenfold array.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Ananta/Śeṣa spanning the base with many hoods, ten Rudra figures above in a rhythmic row, Sarvatomukha multi-faced central figure, Lohita in red tones, bold outlines and sacred geometry balance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Śeṣa with gold-highlighted hood patterns, ten Rudras with ornate crowns and halos, Lohita rendered with red body and gold accents, Sarvatomukha multi-faced with symmetrical gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional clarity—label-like arrangement of Rudra forms on Śeṣa, careful depiction of multi-face iconography and color-coding (Lohita red), fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: cosmic tableau with Śeṣa coiled over a dark ocean, ten Rudras standing on the serpent, Sarvatomukha shown with multiple faces in profile layering, Lohita as a red-hued figure, delicate shading and ornate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोहितश् चैव → lohitaḥ ca eva (ः + च → श्च/श् च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (Rudra-nāma-varṇana)
FAQs
It transmits Rudra-nāma-vidyā: a canonical list of Rudra epithets used for identification, remembrance, and devotional recitation (nāma-japa/stotra contexts).
By cataloging deity-names and cosmological placements (Rudras ‘stationed on the serpent’), it functions like a reference index of theogony and sacred nomenclature alongside the Purana’s many other disciplines.
Remembering and reciting Rudra-names is traditionally held to purify the mind, strengthen devotion to Śiva/Rudra, and accrue religious merit (puṇya) through nāma-smaraṇa.