Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 38
वागीश्वरीपूजा
The Worship of Vāgīśvarī
प्राग्वच्च पञ्च ब्रह्माणि बुद्ध्याधारमतो वदे शतभागे तिथिभागे पद्मं लिङ्गाष्टकं दिशि
prāgvacca pañca brahmāṇi buddhyādhāramato vade śatabhāge tithibhāge padmaṃ liṅgāṣṭakaṃ diśi
如前所说，应安置五种梵（pañca-brahma）真言；因此我将宣说用于观修之所依（ādhāra）。于百分之分位——并同样依月日（tithi）之分位——当布置莲华坛（padma-maṇḍala），并于诸方安置八灵相（liṅga-aṣṭaka）。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Mandala/linga installation protocol: placing pañca-brahma mantras, defining dhyāna-ādhāra, and positioning eight liṅgas directionally within a measured lotus diagram.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañca-brahma vinyāsa and liṅga-aṣṭaka dik-sthāpana in padma-maṇḍala","lookup_keywords":["pañca-brahma","ādhāra","padma-maṇḍala","liṅga-aṣṭaka","tithi-bhāga"],"quick_summary":"Establish the pañca-brahma mantra foundation, construct a precisely divided lotus mandala (hundred-part/tithi-based divisions), and place eight liṅgas in the directions as the meditative and ritual support."}
Concept: Meditation (dhyāna) requires an ādhāra: mantra (pañca-brahma) + measured sacred geometry (padma-maṇḍala) + directional embodiment (liṅga-aṣṭaka).
Application: For consecration and advanced pūjā, integrate mantra-nyāsa with exact spatial division to stabilize visualization and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Linga-Puja and Mandala-Vidhi (Iconography & Ritual Diagram Instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus mandala divided into fine measured parts; pañca-brahma mantras inscribed/placed as the base; eight liṅgas positioned in the eight directions around the center, forming a meditative support diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large stylized padma-maṇḍala with fine grid divisions, mantra syllables around, eight small liṅgas at cardinal and intercardinal points, priest indicating ādhāra for dhyāna, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central lotus mandala with gold-leaf radiance, eight liṅgas around, pañca-brahma inscriptions in decorative cartouches, temple sanctum ambiance, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: hundred-part division lines, tithi markers, labeled directions, eight liṅgas placed precisely, instructional aesthetic with elegant colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down view of a ritual diagram on a cloth, calligraphic mantra labels, eight liṅgas as small black stone forms, attendants holding measuring cords, meticulous detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: prāgvacca = prākvat ca; buddhyādhāramato = buddhi-ādhāram ataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana earlier mention of pañca-brahma and ādhāra ("prāgvat") within the same pūjā/maṇḍala sequence
FAQs
It gives mandala-vidhi: how to construct a lotus-diagram (padma-maṇḍala) using precise divisions (hundred-part and tithi-based measures) and how to position the liṅga-aṣṭaka (eight liṅgas) in the directional quarters as part of Śaiva worship.
It preserves practical temple-ritual technology—diagrammatic geometry (maṇḍala), mantra-sets (pañcabrahma), calendrical ritual timing (tithi), and iconographic placement rules—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s role as a compact manual of applied religious sciences.
Correct directional and diagrammatic placement is treated as aligning worship with cosmic order (dik and kāla), making the liṅga-pūjā ‘properly installed’ in meditation and ritual, thereby enhancing purity, concentration, and the merit (puṇya) of the observance.