Part 4.1 - Description of the Maṇḍuka diagram

[Full title: Padavinyāsa (Different diagrams) (1) Maṇḍuka^[1]]

Maṇḍuka diagram is one of the most famous diagrams. This diagram consists of eight rows and columns; as a result, sixty four squares are created. These square are often known as cell. Each and every cell or square are oriented with different deities according to the theory of vāstupuruṣa. In this diagram four squares in the centre are specified for Brahmā. So, it is called brahmasthāna. The other deities are Āryaka, Vivasvant, Mitra and Bhūdhara each of them occupies three squares starting from the east. Eight other deities, are grouped into four pairs situated in the corners, each pair starting the holy square. The pairs are as follows-Āpa-Āpavatsa, / Savindra and Sāvindra, / Indra and Indrarāja, / Rudra and Rudrarāja. Occupaying two squares at the every cardinal points four deities are consisted.

Direction	Deities
East	Mahendra, Āditya, Satyaka and Bṛsa
West	Puṣpadanta, Jalādhipa, Asura and Śoṣa
North	Bhallāta, Soma, Mṛga and Aditi
South	Rākṣasa, Yama, Gandharva and Bhṛṅgarāja

Jayanta, Antarikṣa, Vitatha, Mṛṣa, Sugrīva, Roga, Mukhya and Diti or Uditi occupying one square each from the four joint cardinal points of the diagram. The remaining eight deities are—Īśa, paryanya, Agni, Pūṣan, Pitṛ, Dauvārika, Vāyu, and Māga. They rule at the corner cell occupying half square each. Thus the forty five deities are the divine rules of sixty four squares in the Maṇḍuka diagram.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

See figure, 3