Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
मध्ये पद्मं पूर्ववच्च विघ्नध्वंसं वदाम्यथ चतुर्हस्तं पुरं कृत्वा वृत्रञ्चैव करद्वयम्
madhye padmaṃ pūrvavacca vighnadhvaṃsaṃ vadāmyatha caturhastaṃ puraṃ kṛtvā vṛtrañcaiva karadvayam
于中央，依前安置/观想莲华。今当宣说“毗伽那-陀梵娑”(Vighna-dhvaṃsa，灭障者)：当作四臂之神形，并描绘“补罗”(pura，城/堡)及弗利特罗（Vṛtra），由一对手（两手）执持或制伏之。
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Yantra-dhyāna and protective ritual visualization: central lotus placement and iconographic specification of a Vighna-dhvaṃsa form for obstacle-removal rites.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vighna-dhvaṃsa-kalpa: central lotus and four-armed obstacle-destroyer visualization","lookup_keywords":["vighna-dhvaṃsa","dhyāna","caturbhuja","padma-madhya","pura Vṛtra"],"quick_summary":"In the mandala’s center place a lotus; then visualize/depict the Vighna-dhvaṃsa deity as four-armed, associated with a ‘pura’ (fort/city motif) and Vṛtra handled/held by two hands—an iconographic cue for removing impediments."}
Concept: Inner and outer obstacles (vighna) are overcome through correctly formed visualization (dhyāna) anchored in sacred geometry (padma/mandala).
Application: Use as a dhyāna-krama before undertaking rites, travel, construction, or initiations—mentally install the central lotus and the four-armed Vighna-dhvaṃsa form to ‘clear the path’.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-yantra-dhyana (Vighna-nashaka-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with a central lotus; above it a four-armed deity labeled Vighna-dhvaṃsa, with a stylized fort/city backdrop and a subdued serpent/dragon-like Vṛtra motif grasped/controlled by two hands.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central lotus mandala on temple floor, fierce yet auspicious four-armed guardian deity, fort-like arch backdrop, Vṛtra as coiled dark serpent subdued, bold outlines, traditional red/ochre/green palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: four-armed Vighna-dhvaṃsa seated/standing on a lotus, gold-embossed halo and fort motif, Vṛtra rendered as subdued serpent-demon, rich jewel colors with heavy gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear iconographic plate—central padma, caturbhuja deity with two hands restraining Vṛtra, schematic fort/city emblem behind, annotated for ritual use, delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly atelier depiction of a tantric rite, priest drawing a lotus mandala, visionary four-armed figure appearing above, fort walls in background motif, Vṛtra as dragon subdued, fine detail and muted palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvavacca → pūrvavat + ca. vadāmyatha → vadāmi + atha. vṛtrañcaiva → vṛtram + ca + eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yantra/mandala-dhyāna and vighna-śānti passages in the Puja-vidhi/Tantra portions near 319
FAQs
It gives a mandala/visualization instruction: place a central lotus and construct a four-armed ‘Vighna-dhvaṃsa’ form, with a ‘pura’ (enclosure/fortified diagram) and Vṛtra depicted/handled as part of the iconography to remove obstacles.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical ritual-technology—diagrammatic mandala construction, deity iconography, and specific obstacle-destroying rites—showing the text’s coverage of applied tantra/puja procedures alongside narrative material.
By ritually configuring the central lotus and the obstacle-subduing form (with Vṛtra symbolizing impediments), the practitioner seeks purification and the removal of hindrances to worship, vows, and life-goals (siddhi).