Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Abhiṣeka-mantrāḥ
Consecration Mantras
ऋतवश् च तथा मासा पक्षा रात्र्यहनी तथा सन्ध्यातिथिमुहूर्ताच्च कालस्यावयवाकृतिः
ṛtavaś ca tathā māsā pakṣā rātryahanī tathā sandhyātithimuhūrtācca kālasyāvayavākṛtiḥ
الفصولُ وكذلك الشهور، وأنصافُ الشهر (pakṣa)، والليلُ والنهار؛ وكذلك أوقاتُ الشفق (sandhyā)، والأيامُ القمرية (tithi)، والمُهُورتا (muhūrta)—هذه هي الأجزاءُ التي تتكوّن منها بنيةُ الزمان (Kāla).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pañcāṅga literacy and ritual scheduling: recognizing kāla’s components (ṛtu, māsa, pakṣa, ahorātra, sandhyā, tithi, muhūrta) for vrata observance, saṃskāras, and daily sandhyā practices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kāla-avayava (Constituents of Time: ṛtu to muhūrta)","lookup_keywords":["Ṛtu","Māsa","Pakṣa","Tithi","Muhūrta"],"quick_summary":"Defines time as a structured set of nested units used in calendrical computation and dharmic scheduling, from seasons down to muhūrtas."}
Concept: Time is knowable through its operational parts; dharma is practiced by aligning action with these divisions.
Application: Practical dharma: choose proper tithi/muhūrta for rites; maintain sandhyā discipline; understand seasonal regimen (ṛtucaryā) in a broader cultural sense.
Khanda Section: Kala-nirupana (Jyotisha / Time-reckoning and calendrical divisions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic depiction of time units: six seasons around a wheel, months and fortnights as inner rings, day-night split, and small segments for sandhyā, tithi, and muhūrta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, kāla-cakra with six ṛtus personified, inner rings for māsa and pakṣa, sun and moon for ahorātra, three sandhyā bands, bold traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted time wheel with personified seasons, sun-moon motifs, ornate border, Sanskrit labels for tithi and muhūrta segments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional chart-like wheel, fine lines and readable labels, small vignettes showing morning/noon/evening sandhyā worship","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar illustrating a calendrical wheel on paper, surrounding marginalia with seasonal scenes (rainy season, spring blossoms), delicate detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋतवश्→ऋतवः; रात्र्यहनी→रात्रि+अहनी (द्वन्द्व, द्विवचन); मुहूर्ताच्च→मुहूर्तात्+च; कालस्यावयवाकृतिः→कालस्य+अवयवाकृतिः (अवयवाकृतिः=अवयव+आकृतिः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 219.12 (macro time units); Agni Purana: vrata/ācāra sections that depend on tithi/pakṣa/māsa (general)
FAQs
It enumerates the standard calendrical and ritual time-units—ṛtu, māsa, pakṣa, rātri/ahan, sandhyā, tithi, and muhūrta—used to time rites, vows, festivals, and astrological calculations.
By defining the basic framework of time-reckoning, it supports multiple applied domains covered by the text—ritual scheduling (pujā/vrata), calendrics (pañcāṅga logic), and Jyotiṣa-based decision-making—showing the Purāṇa’s cross-disciplinary scope.
It implies that correct timing (kāla) is a key purifier and merit-multiplier in dharmic practice: rites performed in the proper tithi, sandhyā, and muhūrta are traditionally held to yield more effective and auspicious results.