Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
वागीश्वरीपूजा
Worship of Vāgīśvarī
केशराणि विचित्राणि कोणान्रक्तेन पूरयेत् व्योमरेखान्तरं कृष्णं द्वाराणीन्द्रेभमानतः
keśarāṇi vicitrāṇi koṇānraktena pūrayet vyomarekhāntaraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ dvārāṇīndrebhamānataḥ
应以装饰之法描绘繁丽的花丝（keśara），并以红色充填诸角。诸“空天线”（vyoma-rekhā）之间的间隙当染为黑色；诸门（dvārāṇi）则依所规定的尺度而布置（依因陀罗/象之量度）。
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Color-coding and line-work for yantra/mandala or architectural diagram: decorate lotus filaments, apply red to corners, black between vyoma-rekhā, and set doors by a specified measurement standard.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yantra coloring rules: keśara decoration, red corners, black vyoma-rekhā interspaces, measured doors","lookup_keywords":["keśara","vyoma-rekhā","rakta koṇa","kṛṣṇa antara","dvāra māna"],"quick_summary":"Ornament the lotus filaments, color corners red, fill the interspaces between the sky-lines in black, and place doorways according to the prescribed measurement standard."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by correct visualization: line, color, and measure are parts of upāsanā through form (ākṛti).
Application: When drawing yantras/mandalas for worship or planning sacred space, follow fixed color/line conventions to maintain symbolic integrity.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Yantra–Maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa (Iconography & diagrammatic construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An artist-sthapati painting a lotus mandala: multicolored filaments, corners saturated red, black fill between thin 'sky-lines', and door positions marked with measured ticks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural scene of a temple floor yantra being painted: bold red corners, deep black interspaces between fine white/ochre lines, ornate keśara patterns, craftsmen with pigment bowls","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting focusing on the mandala: gold accents on lotus filaments, rich vermilion corners, glossy black interspaces, door frames highlighted with gold, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: step-by-step coloring—keśara patterns, red corner fills, black between vyoma-rekhā, door placement with measurement marks; delicate shading and clear labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a workshop: painters mixing red and black pigments, a precise mandala on paper with fine rekhā, doors indicated by measured notches; refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṇānraktena → कोणान् + रक्तेन. dvārāṇīndrebhamānataḥ is unclear; parsed as द्वाराणि + इन्द्र-इभ-मानतः (corrupt/technical term).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 318.7 (navapadma structure); Agni Purana 318.9 (deity-nyāsa within lotus)
FAQs
It gives precise vāstu/yantra instructions for finishing a maṇḍala: how to ornament the keśara-like strokes, which regions to fill with red or black, and how to proportion door/opening placements using a named canonical measurement standard.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical knowledge—here, diagrammatic drafting, pigment conventions, and proportional measurement—showing it functions as a practical handbook for ritual-architectural arts (vāstu, maṇḍala/yantra, iconographic layout).
Correct color-placement and proportion in a ritual diagram is treated as essential for the integrity of worship: accurate construction is believed to stabilize the intended deity-field, reduce ritual faults (doṣa), and support purity and efficacy of the rite.