Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 28
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
कोष्टकानि चतुर्भिस्तैर् मध्ये भद्रं समालिखेत् परितो विसृजेद्वीथ्यै तथा दिक्षु समालिखेत् इतरेषां स्मृतं रूपं हार्दं चिन्तामयं सदा स्थूलं वैराजमाख्यातं सूक्ष्मं वै लिङ्गितं भवेत्
koṣṭakāni caturbhistair madhye bhadraṃ samālikhet parito visṛjedvīthyai tathā dikṣu samālikhet itareṣāṃ smṛtaṃ rūpaṃ hārdaṃ cintāmayaṃ sadā sthūlaṃ vairājamākhyātaṃ sūkṣmaṃ vai liṅgitaṃ bhavet
以此应画四个格室（koṣṭaka）；于其中间当描绘吉祥之“跋陀罗”(bhadra)形。四周应留环行之道（vīthī），并同样在诸方位标出分界。其余诸相被忆念为“在心之相”，恒由观想所成。粗相（外相）名为“毗罗阇”(Vairāja)，而微细之相确为“灵伽提”(Liṅgita)，即被指示、具特征之相。
Lord Agni (in Agni Purana’s typical instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Teaches mandala drafting: four koṣṭakas, central bhadra, circumambulatory vīthī, and directional markings; distinguishes gross (Vairāja) and subtle (Liṅgita) ritual forms for meditation and installation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-kalpa: koṣṭaka-catuṣṭaya, madhya-bhadra, vīthī, and Vairāja/Liṅgita form distinction","lookup_keywords":["kostaka","bhadra","vithi","Vairaja","Lingita"],"quick_summary":"Construct a four-compartment mandala with a central bhadra and surrounding passage, mark directional divisions, and understand the outer gross form as Vairāja while the subtle indicated form is Liṅgita for heart-centered contemplation."}
Concept: Two-tier ontology in practice: gross cosmic (Vairāja/virāṭ) as external support and subtle sign-form (Liṅgita) as inner meditative support.
Application: Begin with structured external visualization/diagram, then internalize into subtle indicators for steadier dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Vastu & Yantra-Kalpa (Mandala design, diagrammatic ritual layout)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist draws a mandala: four compartments, a central bhadra motif, a surrounding vīthī passage, and directional marks; overlay labels ‘Vairāja’ (gross) and ‘Liṅgita’ (subtle).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold geometric mandala with four koṣṭakas and central bhadra lotus-square, ochre-red palette, a ring-like vīthī around, directional symbols at cardinal points, subtle glow indicating Liṅgita within.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented central bhadra with gold embossing, four compartments with floral fill, thick gold ring as vīthī, small directional emblems, faint inner aura for subtle form.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clean instructional diagram on a manuscript-like background, clearly separated koṣṭakas, labeled vīthī, arrows to directions, two overlays showing gross vs subtle layers.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan drawing the mandala with compass and ruler, delicate geometric precision, surrounding vīthī as walkway, marginal notes naming Vairāja and Liṅgita."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: visṛjedvīthyai = visṛjet + vīthyai; vairājamākhyātam = vairājam + ākhyātam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.29 (heart-lotus īśvara-rūpa); Agni Purana 29.27 (kṣetra-vibhāga counts); Agni Purana 29.30 (bīja as inner lamp)
FAQs
It teaches mandala/yantra drafting: creating a four-celled grid, drawing the central ‘bhadra’ figure, leaving a circumambulatory passage (vīthī), and marking directional divisions—linking the diagram to gross (Vairāja) and subtle (Liṅgita) contemplative forms.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied ritual-architectural knowledge (Vastu/yantra-kalpa): precise spatial planning terms (koṣṭaka, vīthī, dik) and a theory of gross vs. subtle forms used in worship, meditation, and sacred layout design.
Correctly drawn sacred geometry is treated as a support for focused contemplation (cintāmaya) and orderly worship; aligning the outer diagram (Vairāja) with an inner, sign-based subtle form (Liṅgita) is presented as aiding concentration and ritual purity.