Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 33
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
वैदूर्याभं दक्षिणाब्जं कुन्दाभं वारुणं कजम् उत्तराब्जन्तु शङ्खाभमन्यत् सर्वं विचित्रकम्
vaidūryābhaṃ dakṣiṇābjaṃ kundābhaṃ vāruṇaṃ kajam uttarābjantu śaṅkhābhamanyat sarvaṃ vicitrakam
Ang lotus sa timog ay dapat may kulay na tulad ng vaidūrya (batong hiyas na cat’s-eye). Ang lotus na kaugnay ni Varuṇa ay dapat puti na gaya ng sampagita. Ang lotus sa hilaga naman ay dapat puting gaya ng kabibe ng śaṅkha; at ang lahat ng iba pa ay dapat sari-sari ang kulay.
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Color specification for directional lotus-sections in a mandala/yantra used for temple layout or ritual painting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Directional lotus colors: Vaidūrya-south, Kunda/Varuṇa, Śaṅkha-north, others variegated","lookup_keywords":["vaidūrya","kunda","Varuṇa","śaṅkha","dik-varṇa"],"quick_summary":"Assigns hues to lotus sectors: the southern lotus is cat’s-eye (vaidūrya) colored; the Varuṇa-related lotus is jasmine-white; the northern lotus is conch-white; remaining sectors are multi-colored."}
Concept: Material qualities (color, brilliance, purity) are mapped onto directions/deities to stabilize ritual intention in space.
Application: Choose pigments and decorative stones/plasters matching the prescribed hues when painting mandalas or marking temple zones.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Iconography & Temple/Altar Materials)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala with multiple lotus compartments: south tinted like cat’s-eye gemstone (greenish-yellow sheen), Varuṇa sector jasmine-white, north conch-white, remaining petals variegated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: lotus-mandala with mineral-like hues, south petal in vaidūrya green-yellow, Varuṇa petal in soft jasmine white, north in conch white, other petals multicolored, ornate temple border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: embossed gold outlines around lotus petals, south petal rendered in gemlike vaidūrya tone with gold highlights, Varuṇa petal creamy white, north bright conch white, others richly variegated","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean diagram with labeled directions and color swatches; careful rendering of vaidūrya hue and two distinct whites (kunda vs śaṅkha), remaining petals patterned multicolor","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: painter’s palette shown beside a lotus mandala; artisans applying gemlike green-yellow to the south, delicate whites to Varuṇa and north, and intricate multicolor patterns elsewhere"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bilahari","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: uttarābjantu → uttara-abjam + tu. śaṅkhābhamanyat → śaṅkha-ābham + anyat. ‘kajam’ appears as a textual irregularity; likely intended ‘abjam’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mandala-varṇa and dik-devatā discussions near 319
FAQs
It prescribes direction-wise color standards for lotus motifs/components in a sacred layout, linking specific hues (vaidūrya, kunda-white, conch-white) to the south, Varuṇa-related placement, and the north.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana records practical Vāstu/iconographic rules—precise material-color coding by direction and deity—showing its coverage of applied ritual design alongside doctrine.
Correct directional coloration is treated as ritual correctness (śuddhi and saṃskāra) in sacred construction, supporting auspiciousness and the intended deity-alignment of the rite or installation.