319 - Mode of worshipping Vägisvari (Goddess of speech)

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the worship of (Goddess) Vågiśvari (Goddess of speech) in a circle. The mantra (made up of syllable of) Uhaka together with that of) Käla added with the letters (would be the mantra for the Goddess).

2-4. O Nishada (hunter) (denotes Kumāra)! The mantra (for Goddess Vågiśvari)should be used like that of the Moon and Sun. No letter need be assigned. Oneshould contemplate (the Goddess) as having the complexion of jasmine and moon, embodying the fifty letters¹ (of the alphabet), adorned with garlands of pearls and flowers, (holding the postures of hand) offering boons and protection and holding books and possessing three eyes. Oneshould repeat the garland of letters from 'a' to ksha' remembering as pervading (the body of the Goddess) upto the tip of the head and the ends of theshoulders.

1. The letters a to ksha of the Sanskrit language.

5-10. The preceptorshould make a circle for the sake of initiating (the disciple) in a mantra. A lotus (figure) that is good (for the worship of the Goddess)should have twelve tips divided into two parts. Oneshould make ready the pathway and steps. Thereshould be eight lotuses on the cross-road. The pathway and stepsshould be provided outside also. Thereshould be doors in two squares. Similarly, the side-doors, the construction of angular points and two strips of clothshould be done. The nine lotuses (should be) white. The pericarp of the lotus (should have) the hue of gold. The filamentsshould be variegat ed

The angular pointsshould be filled with red (coloured substance). The inner space between the lines of the sky (should be painted) black. The doorsshould be of the measure of the elephant of Indra. (Goddess) Sarasvati (should be contemplated) at the centre of the (above) lotus. (Goddess) Vägisi (should be contemplated) on the eastern lotus. (Goddesses) Hrullekha, Chitravågisī, Gayatri, Viśvarūpå, Sankari, Rati and Dhruti (should also be worshipped). (The syllable) hrim and the respective syllables (should be worshipped) in the east and other (directions). (The Goddess)should be contemplated as (Goddess) Sarasvati. Oblations (should be done) with clarified butter from the milk of a tawny cow. One would then become a Samskruta and Prākruta poet and one who is well-versed in the science of poesy and other things.

Summary of chapter 321 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

Annual horoscopy (varṣaphala) is described: at the exact solar return moment each year, a new chart (varṣapraveśa) is cast, and the lord of that year (varṣeśa) and the sixteen tājika yogas — hayyāja, iṭthaśāla, naṣṭa, ishrāfa, and others — are evaluated to predict events in the coming year. The muntha (an annually progressing sensitive point) and the five tahvīl sub-lords are explained as additional layers of annual prediction. The chapter demonstrates the integration of the solar year with the natal chart, showing how the varṣaphala tradition enriches rather than replaces the natal reading.