Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
समीप उपशोभानां कोणास्तु परिकीर्तिताः चतुर्दिक्षु ततो द्वे द्वे चिन्तयेन्मध्यकोष्ठकैः उपशोभाञ्च नीलेन कोणशङ्ख्यांश् च वै सितान् भद्रके पूरणं प्रोक्तमेवमन्येषु पूरणं
samīpa upaśobhānāṃ koṇāstu parikīrtitāḥ caturdikṣu tato dve dve cintayenmadhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ upaśobhāñca nīlena koṇaśaṅkhyāṃś ca vai sitān bhadrake pūraṇaṃ proktamevamanyeṣu pūraṇaṃ
Ang mga sulok na katabi ng mga kompartimentong «upaśobhā» ay ipinahahayag na siyang mga paghahating-sulok. Sa apat na direksiyon, saka dapat isipin na may tig-dalawang gayong bahagi sa bawat direksiyon, kasama ang mga selulang nasa pagitan. Ang mga kompartimentong upaśobhā ay pupunuin ng bughaw, at ang mga bahaging binibilang sa sulok ay tunay na pupunuin ng puti. Nasabi na ang paraan ng pagpuno para sa «bhadraka»; gayon din ang gawin sa iba pang mga anyo.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Color-coding and placement rules for mandala/temple-grid compartments (koṣṭhaka) during ritual/architectural diagram preparation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Upaśobhā–koṇa-koṣṭhaka varṇa-pūraṇa (blue/white filling rule)","lookup_keywords":["upaśobhā","koṇa","koṣṭhaka","nīla","śveta"],"quick_summary":"Define corner-adjacent divisions around the upaśobhā cells, assign directional intermediate cells, and fill upaśobhā in blue while corner-numbered divisions are white; extend the same filling logic to other patterns."}
Concept: Ritual-visual order (krama) and auspicious differentiation through spatial and chromatic coding.
Application: Ensures consistent, tradition-compliant mandala rendering for worship/installation rites and architectural planning.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Temple/Maṇḍala Design and Color-Filling Rules)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A square mandala grid with labeled upaśobhā compartments adjacent to corners; upaśobhā cells painted blue and corner-numbered divisions painted white, with intermediate directional cells indicated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, a ritual architect-priest drawing a square mandala on the floor, upaśobhā cells filled deep blue, corner divisions in white, clear grid lines, minimal background, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style with gold work, central mandala grid on a wooden plank, blue upaśobhā panels and white corner panels highlighted with gold outlines, ornamental borders, temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram emphasis, clean linework of koṣṭhaka grid with annotations, blue fill for upaśobhā and white for corner divisions, muted palette, scholarly workshop mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature style, artisan and priest seated with pigments, precise geometric mandala on paper, blue and white compartment fills, fine borders and calligraphic labels, courtly atelier setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṇāstu = koṇāḥ + tu; upaśobhāñca = upaśobhān + ca; koṇaśaṅkhyāṃś ca = koṇaśaṅkhyān + ca; proktam evam = proktam + evam; evam anyeṣu = evam + anyeṣu; cintayen-madhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ normalized to cintayet madhyakoṣṭhakaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.17-29.20 (mandala/yantra coloration and measurements)
FAQs
It gives Vāstu/maṇḍala-vidhi instructions: how to classify corner-adjacent compartments and how to apply specific colors—blue for upaśobhā cells and white for the corner-designated divisions—within the bhadraka and related layouts.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical technical standards for ritual geometry and sacred design—compartment classification, directional subdivision, and prescribed color-filling—showing its coverage of applied arts like Vāstu and maṇḍala construction.
Correct maṇḍala layout and color-filling are treated as part of ritual accuracy (śuddhi and saṃskāra): properly executed sacred diagrams are believed to support auspiciousness (bhadra), order, and the intended efficacy of worship or consecration rites.