Let me tell you how the sacred mandala, the auspicious enclosure for the great sacrifice, is to be prepared, as described in the revered Agni Purāṇa. First, at the side of the central design, six coils are carefully drawn in a rotating pattern. This creates twelve fish forms, and with them, a double-petaled lotus is fashioned, its symmetry and beauty radiating from the center. For the accomplishment of the five-leaved form, additional double lines are drawn, and in the four cardinal directions, the limbs of the design are extended according to tradition. At three of the corners, the elements that represent the feet are placed, while at the other two corners, pairs are set. The limbs are marked in each of the four directions, ensuring balance and completeness. Then, for the sake of creating the pathways or streets, two rows in each direction are erased, and in every direction, four doorways are fashioned, allowing entry and movement through the sacred space. Beside each doorway, the wise are to create eight adornments, and on either side of these, an equal number of secondary embellishments are to be added. Near these secondary adornments, the corners are carefully marked, and in the four directions, two-by-two arrangements are made with the central compartments in mind. On the outer edge, four marks are made on each side, and for further embellishment, three are erased on each side of every petal. In the same manner, but in reverse order, the secondary adornments are crafted. For both the inner and outer parts of each corner, three divisions are made in two ways, ensuring a harmonious structure. In this way, sixteen compartments are created, and the encompassing circle is completed. Within the section of twelve, the lotus is formed with thirty-six petals, and the streets are marked out accordingly. A single row, as before, is reserved for the adornment of the inner and outer doorways. The circle of the mandala should be measured as twelve finger-breadths, or the width of a hand. If the measure is two hands, then one hand is used as the standard, increasing the measure at each doorway as the design proceeds. The altar itself should be square, adorned with a wheel and a lotus motif. Half of the lotus is to be crafted with nine divisions, and the navel—its center—is considered with three. Eight doorways are made, and the rim is measured at four finger-breadths. The field is divided into three, and then markings are made within two of these, so that the lines can be drawn for the accomplishment of the inner sound, each line struck with care. Shapes reminiscent of blue lotus petals or the citron fruit are to be drawn, or, if desired, elongated lotus leaves may be depicted. After revolving the outer rim, which is placed between the lower joints, the root of each petal is revolved, set in the middle of each joint. Standing at the center of each petal, the central stick is revolved evenly, so that the other petals, equal and citron-shaped, are properly formed. The field is then divided into seven, creating fourteen equal divisions. When these are further divided in two, a hundred divisions are made, and indeed, ninety-six more are added. With these four, an auspicious mark is drawn at the center of each compartment, and these are distributed around the mandala for the streets, likewise marked in each direction. Once more, for the streets, the lotuses are smoothed all around. In the middle compartments, two are erased in each direction to form the neck. Outside, four are erased, then three and three more. At the side of the neck, on the outside, a single adornment is prescribed. At the outer corners, the field is divided, and three spaces are cleansed within each of the seven boundaries, resulting in a ninefold mandala. Here, Hari—Lord Viṣṇu—is to be worshipped in these nine arrangements. Thus, the mandala is prepared, described as having one thousand and twenty-four compartments, with sixteen at the center. Once the auspicious enclosure is drawn and the row at the side cleansed, the sixteen compartments are marked, and the eight auspicious enclosures are placed in the directions. After cleansing the row, sixteen auspicious enclosures are drawn in the same manner, and the surrounding row is cleansed and arranged accordingly. At the doorways in each direction, twelve compartments are created, arranged in groups of three. After erasing six, four remain in the center and on the sides. Four are placed inside, two outside, cleansed for beauty; for the secondary doors, three are inside and five are outside. The cleansing and arrangement continue for the sake of beauty, as before, and at the outer corners, three compartments are cleansed within each of the seven boundaries. In the thirty-fivefold arrangement, the supreme Brahman is worshipped at the center. In the lotus from the east, Vāsudeva and others are worshipped in their proper order. Varāha is worshipped in the eastern lotus, and the arrangements are honored one after another, up to the twenty-sixth. As stated, the entire arrangement is to be worshipped in a single lotus, in the prescribed order, and thus the wise consider the sacrifice complete. Seven are divided by their forms and regarded as imperishable; the field, measuring forty hands, is divided accordingly. Each part is divided sevenfold, and one is divided twice more, yielding sixty-four, seven hundred, and a thousand compartments. The auspicious enclosure and the central compartments, numbering sixteen, are marked. At the sides, a row and eight auspicious enclosures are added, along with a smaller row. Sixteen rows and an additional row are drawn, with twenty-four lotuses, thirty-two row-lotuses, and others arising from the rows and small rows. Then, forty rows are made, with three remaining. The doors and their beauty are enhanced in the directions, and erased in the center. For establishing two, four, or six doors, erasures are made in the four directions; for beautiful secondary doors, five, three, and one are erased outside. At the doors, inside at the sides, four are placed in the middle; two by two are erased, thus six become the embellishments. In one direction, the numbers are four, as enumerated. In each direction, three gateways are set; at each corner, five by five are arranged in sequence, forming rows. In this way, the enclosures are made, and thus the auspicious circle for the human sacrifice is established, complete in its sacred geometry and prepared for the worship of the divine.