Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 31
The Description of the Sarvatobhadra Maṇḍala (सर्वतोभद्रमण्डलकथनम्)
विमृज्य वाह्यकोणेषु सप्तान्तस्त्रीणि मार्जयेत् मण्डलं नवभागं स्यान्नवव्यूहं हरिं यजेत् संहतः केवलस्तिष्ठेदेवं मन्त्रेश्वरो हृदि अनेकशुषिरे कुम्भे तावन्मात्रा गभस्तयः
vimṛjya vāhyakoṇeṣu saptāntastrīṇi mārjayet maṇḍalaṃ navabhāgaṃ syānnavavyūhaṃ hariṃ yajet saṃhataḥ kevalastiṣṭhedevaṃ mantreśvaro hṛdi anekaśuṣire kumbhe tāvanmātrā gabhastayaḥ
拭净地面之后，应净治外侧诸角——内作七道标记，外作三道。坛城（maṇḍala）当分为九分，于九重阵列（navavyūha）中礼拜哈利（Hari）。如是，行者摄心独住，则咒主安住于心。若一水罐（kumbha）多有孔隙，其光线（gabhastayaḥ）唯随孔隙之尺度而显现。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Maṇḍala-śuddhi, navabhāga-vinyāsa, and internalization (hṛdaya-sthāpanā) of the mantra-devatā during pūjā; using the kumbha-dr̥ṣṭānta to understand how śakti manifests according to the ritual ‘apertures’ (upādhis).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Navabhāga-maṇḍala & Navavyūha-Hari Pūjā; Kumbha-gabhasti Dr̥ṣṭānta","lookup_keywords":["navabhāga maṇḍala","navavyūha Hari","maṇḍala mārjana","mantra-īśvara hṛdaya","kumbha gabhastayaḥ"],"quick_summary":"Cleanse and mark the maṇḍala with prescribed inner/outer lines, divide into nine parts, and worship Hari as the ninefold array. The perforated-kumbha simile teaches that mantra-śakti ‘radiates’ in proportion to the prepared channels/openings."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (illustrative analogy)
Concept: Śakti manifests according to upādhi (prepared measure/channel); mantra-devatā is to be installed inwardly (hṛdaya) through disciplined ritual order.
Application: Treat maṇḍala lines/divisions as ‘channels’ for attention and śakti; maintain ekāgratā (collected solitude) so the mantra becomes heart-abiding rather than merely external.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Maṇḍala, Kalasha, and Mantra-nyāsa procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual ground being wiped and marked; a nine-part maṇḍala with Hari worshiped in a ninefold array; beside it a perforated kumbha emitting measured rays of light, symbolizing controlled manifestation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest drawing a navabhāga maṇḍala with white lines on ochre floor, Hari indicated in nine compartments, perforated kumbha emitting stylized rays, flat colors, bold outlines, sacred geometry emphasis","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central navavyūha-Hari in a nine-compartment maṇḍala, rich reds and greens, gold foil highlighting the maṇḍala borders and rays from a perforated kumbha, ornate temple-pūjā setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional depiction of maṇḍala cleaning and ninefold division, labeled compartments, subtle shading, calm priest seated in ekāgratā, perforated pot with measured beams","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual courtyard, artisan-priest drawing nine-part diagram, attendants holding kumbha with many holes, fine linear rays, delicate architecture and textiles, precise geometry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: saptāntastrīṇi → sapta + antaḥ-trīṇi; syānnavavyūhaṃ → syāt + nava-vyūham; kevalastiṣṭhet → kevalaḥ + tiṣṭhet; tiṣṭhedevaṃ → tiṣṭhet + evam; anekaśuṣire → aneka-śuṣire; tāvanmātrā → tāvat-mātrāḥ (agreeing with gabhastayaḥ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 29.32-35 (yantra–nāḍī mapping; bhadraka diagrams; mantra-lakṣaṇa; siddhi-vairāgya)
FAQs
It gives practical maṇḍala-vidhi: how to cleanse/mark the corners, divide the ritual diagram into nine compartments, and perform Navavyūha-Hari worship, emphasizing focused, solitary composure during mantra practice.
It combines ritual geometry (ninefold maṇḍala), deity-theology (Navavyūha of Hari), and mantra-theory (Mantra-īśvara abiding in the heart), showing how the Agni Purāṇa integrates liturgy, symbolism, and technical procedure in one compact instruction.
The verse links external purification (maṇḍala cleansing and ordered layout) with internal realization (the mantra-deity established in the heart), teaching that disciplined ritual form supports inner steadiness and the effective fruition of worship.