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
在从东方起的诸花瓣上，应安置以迦摩（Kāmā）为首的九位圣力（Śakti）；而在花心（karnikā，中央轮）之上，依次安置瓦玛（Vāmā）、耶什塔（Jyeṣṭhā）、劳德丽（Raudrī）、迦梨（Kālī）与迦罗维迦利尼（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.