Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
पूर्वादिपत्रे कामाद्या नवकं कर्णिकोपरि वामा ज्येष्ठा क्रमाद्रौद्रो काली कलविकारिणी
pūrvādipatre kāmādyā navakaṃ karṇikopari vāmā jyeṣṭhā kramādraudro kālī kalavikāriṇī
Sa mga talulot na nagsisimula sa silangan, ilagay ang pangkat ng siyam na Śakti na nagsisimula kay Kāmā; at sa gitnang pusod ng bulaklak (pericarp), ayon sa wastong ayos, ilagay sina Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, Raudrī, Kālī, at Kalavikāriṇī.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Yantra/mandala-puja nyasa: placing specific Shaktis on lotus-petals (dik-patra) and on the karnika (pericarp) to structure Devi-archana and internal visualization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Navaka-Śakti-patra-nyāsa and Karnikā-Śakti-sthāpana","lookup_keywords":["patra-nyasa","navaka shakti","karnika","dik-patra","devi mandala"],"quick_summary":"Assign the nine Śaktis beginning with Kāmā to the petals starting from the east; place Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, Raudrī, Kālī, and Kalavikāriṇī on the central pericarp in the stated order for mandala completeness."}
Concept: Śakti is approached through ordered spatial nyāsa; directionality and center (karnika) encode hierarchy of powers.
Application: Use consistent east-first orientation and center-installation to stabilize visualization and mantra-japa during Devi-puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Yantra–Mandala–Devi-nama-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-mandala diagram: petals marked from the eastern petal onward with nine Śaktis; the central pericarp labeled with Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, Raudrī, Kālī, Kalavikāriṇī in order; priest’s hand indicating placement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, lotus mandala with labeled petals, priest performing nyasa with mudra, sacred geometry emphasized, traditional ornament borders, warm lamp-lit ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central lotus mandala with embossed gold outlines on petals and karnika, stylized Sanskrit labels, priest figure with jeweled ornaments, deep red background, gold work highlighting the center","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework instructional mandala, pastel palette, clear east-direction marker, sequential placement shown with small vignettes of nyasa mudras, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down mandala on a ritual cloth, fine calligraphy labels, attendant holding puja items, delicate floral margins, precise geometry and courtly detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: karṇikopari → karṇikā-upari; kramādraudro → kramāt raudrā (visarga/stop assimilation in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (Yantra–Mandala–Nyasa sequence); Agni Purana 303 (Devi-nama-nyasa and dhyana portions)
FAQs
It gives a precise nyāsa/placement rule for a lotus-maṇḍala: assign the nine Śaktis starting with Kāmā to the petals from the eastern petal onward, and place specific Śaktis on the central pericarp in a fixed sequence.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational ritual technology—mandala geometry, deity-allocation, and ordered installation—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of practical Tantra/Pūjā-vidhi alongside other sciences.
Correct placement (krama) is treated as essential for the mantra–deity alignment of the maṇḍala; performing the worship as prescribed is understood to yield purity, protection, and siddhi-oriented merit through properly invoked Śakti.