Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 9
Trailokya-mohinī Śrī-Lakṣmī-ādi-pūjā and Durgā-yoga
Protective and Siddhi Rites
शाङ्करीमुक्क्तरे द्वारि तन्मध्ये ऽष्टदलपङ्कजं वासुदेवः सङ्कर्षणः प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धकः
śāṅkarīmukktare dvāri tanmadhye 'ṣṭadalapaṅkajaṃ vāsudevaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ pradyumnaścāniruddhakaḥ
شاںکری (شیو) دروازے پر ‘مُکت-تر’ (موتی جیسا سفید) نشان ہے؛ اور اس کے وسط میں آٹھ پتیوں والا کنول ہے، جس میں واسودیو، سنکرشن، پردیومن اور انیرُدھ کا وِن्यास کیا جائے۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Maṇḍala-nyāsa: placing the Caturvyūha (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha) on an eight-petalled lotus at the gateway-marking for ritual protection and deity-installation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭadala-padma nyāsa of the Caturvyūha at Śāṅkarī gateway","lookup_keywords":["Śāṅkarī-dvāra","muktatara","aṣṭadala-padma","Caturvyūha","Vāsudeva"],"quick_summary":"Mark the Śāṅkarī gateway with the ‘muktatara’ sign and install an eight-petalled lotus in the center for assigning the four Vyūha forms—structuring the ritual space through ordered placement."}
Concept: Cosmic principles are approached through ordered spatialization (maṇḍala) and name-form assignment (nyāsa).
Application: In ritual practice, keep the lotus diagram and deity placements consistent to preserve the integrity of the āvaraṇa sequence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Vaishnava Mandala and Dvara-devata Nyasa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual gateway labeled Śāṅkarī with a pearl-white mark; at its center an eight-petalled lotus diagram containing the four Vyūha deities’ placements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized gateway arch with white ‘muktatara’ emblem; central aṣṭadala lotus mandala; four divine figures indicated in traditional icon colors; flat planes, bold contours, sacred symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate gateway panel with pearl-white motif; embossed gold lotus with eight petals; four Vyūha deities seated/standing in quadrants, heavy gold work, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional mandala plate—clean geometric aṣṭadala padma, labels for Vāsudeva/Saṅkarṣaṇa/Pradyumna/Aniruddha; gateway frame and ‘muktatara’ mark rendered delicately.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly painterly gateway with a central lotus diagram on the threshold; four divine presences subtly depicted; fine linework, floral borders, restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तन्मध्ये = तत् + मध्ये; मध्येऽष्टदलपङ्कजम् = मध्ये + अष्टदलपङ्कजम्; प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धकः = प्रद्युम्नः + च + अनिरुद्धकः. (मुक्क्तरे पाठः सम्भवतः ‘उत्तरे’ इति; यहाँ उत्तरॆ रूपेण ग्रहणम्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 307 (mandala, dvāra-devatā, dhyāna/nyāsa continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes a doorway (dvāra) arrangement and an eight-petalled lotus (aṣṭadala-padma) mandala in the center, to be ritually associated with the four Vyūhas—Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha—used in nyāsa/mandala-based worship.
Beyond mythology, it records practical liturgical engineering—how to map divine forms onto spatial layouts (gateways and lotus-diagrams), reflecting the Purāṇa’s coverage of temple ritual, iconographic placement, and tantric-style worship technology.
Correctly installing the Vyūha deities in the mandala is intended to sacralize the threshold and inner space, supporting purification, protection, and focused devotion by aligning the worshipper’s entry and attention with prescribed divine presences.