Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 19
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
एवं षोडशकोष्ठं स्यादेवमन्यत्तु मण्डलम् द्विषट्कभागे षट्त्रिंशत्पदं पद्मन्तु वीथिका शालिपिष्टादि शुक्लं स्याद्रक्तं कौसुम्भकादिकम् हरिद्रया च हारिद्रं कृष्णं स्याद्दग्धधान्यतः
evaṃ ṣoḍaśakoṣṭhaṃ syādevamanyattu maṇḍalam dviṣaṭkabhāge ṣaṭtriṃśatpadaṃ padmantu vīthikā śālipiṣṭādi śuklaṃ syādraktaṃ kausumbhakādikam haridrayā ca hāridraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ syāddagdhadhānyataḥ
Sa gayon, may mandala na may labing-anim na kompartimento; gayon din may iba pang mga mandala. Kapag hinati sa dalawang ulit na anim na bahagi, nagkakaroon ng tatlumpu’t anim na parisukat na grid; ang diyagram ng lotus ay ang «vīthikā» (ayus na parang daan/landas). Ang puti ay gawin mula sa harina ng bigas at katulad; ang pula mula sa safflower at kahawig na sangkap; ang dilaw mula sa luyang-dilaw; at ang itim mula sa sinunog na butil.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Construct mandala grids (16-cell, 36-pada) and prepare traditional pigments from readily available substances for ritual floor-drawing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśa-koṣṭha & ṣaṭtriṃśat-pada maṇḍala; varṇa-dravya (pigment sources)","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśa-koṣṭha","ṣaṭtriṃśat-pada","śāli-piṣṭa","kāsumbha","haridrā"],"quick_summary":"Defines common mandala grids (16 compartments and 36 squares) and gives practical pigment sources: rice-flour for white, safflower for red, turmeric for yellow, and burnt grain for black."}
Concept: Sacred geometry (pada-vibhāga) is operationalized through accessible material culture (natural pigments).
Application: Enables correct mandala construction and coloration without specialized resources, supporting domestic and temple rites.
Khanda Section: Vastu / Mandala-Lakshana (Temple & iconographic diagramming; ritual design-grids)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two mandala diagrams side-by-side: a 4x4 sixteen-compartment grid and a 6x6 thirty-six-square grid; bowls of rice flour (white), safflower dye (red), turmeric (yellow), and burnt grain powder (black) shown as pigment sources.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan preparing natural pigments—white rice flour, red safflower, yellow turmeric, black burnt grain—beside a 16-cell and 36-cell mandala grid drawn on the floor, earthy temple interior","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, mandala grids framed with gold borders, pigment bowls rendered richly, white/red/yellow/black powders gleaming with gold highlights, devotional workshop setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional chart showing 16-compartment and 36-square grids with labels, and a neat panel listing pigment sources (rice flour, safflower, turmeric, burnt grain), soft colors and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with geometric grids on paper, small labeled pigment dishes (white rice flour, red safflower, yellow turmeric, black burnt grain), fine detailing and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādevamanyattu = syāt + evam + anyat + tu; padmantu = padmam + tu; syādraktaṃ = syāt + raktam; syāddagdhadhānyataḥ = syāt + dagdha-dhānyataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.16-29.18 (color placement rules); Agni Purana 29.20 (mandala measurements and japa counts)
FAQs
It specifies mandala/pada-grid types (16-cell and 36-cell layouts, including the padma-vīthikā arrangement) and prescribes practical pigment sources for drawing them: rice flour for white, safflower for red, turmeric for yellow, and charred grain for black.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied technical knowledge used in temple-ritual practice—diagram geometry (pada divisions) and material science (natural dyes/pigments), showing the Purana functioning as a handbook for ritual arts and built-space traditions.
Correctly constructed and properly colored mandalas are treated as prerequisites for orderly worship (āvaraṇa/nyāsa and pūjā), supporting ritual purity and the intended efficacy (siddhi) of the rite by aligning form, measure, and substance.