Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
चण्डहृदयाय हूं फट् ॐ चण्डशिरसे तथा ॐ चण्डशिखायै हूं फट् चण्डायुः कवचाय च
caṇḍahṛdayāya hūṃ phaṭ oṃ caṇḍaśirase tathā oṃ caṇḍaśikhāyai hūṃ phaṭ caṇḍāyuḥ kavacāya ca
يُقال «هُوم فَتْ» لقلب چَنْدَا؛ وكذلك «أوم» لرأس چَنْدَا؛ و«أوم هُوم فَتْ» لِـشِخَا چَنْدَا (عُقدة الشعر العليا)؛ ويُتلى كَڤَچَا-مانترا لأجل آيُح (قوة الحياة) لِچَنْدَا.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa and kavaca: assign mantras to heart, head, śikhā, and life-force (āyuḥ) of Caṇḍa to establish protective armor and stabilize the invoked deity-force within the practitioner/ritual field.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caṇḍa-aṅga-nyāsa and Āyuḥ-kavaca","lookup_keywords":["aṅga-nyāsa","kavaca","hṛdaya","śiras","śikhā"],"quick_summary":"Perform limb-placements (heart/head/topknot) with specified syllables (hūṃ phaṭ, oṃ, oṃ hūṃ phaṭ) and apply the āyuḥ-kavaca to seal protection and continuity of the rite."}
Concept: Body-as-altar: sacred power is mapped onto bodily loci; kavaca expresses the principle of spiritual ‘armor’ through mantra embodiment.
Application: Use consistent aṅga-nyāsa order (hṛdaya→śiras→śikhā→kavaca) to build concentration and a felt sense of protection before further rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Kavacha and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The practitioner performs aṅga-nyāsa: touching heart, head, and topknot while reciting hūṃ phaṭ / oṃ / oṃ hūṃ phaṭ, then visualizes a protective kavaca around the life-force of Caṇḍa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogic figure touching chest and head in sequence, concentric protective bands around the body, red-black fierce aura motifs, mantra syllables stylized near each locus.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central figure with gold halo and embossed protective armor pattern, hands touching heart/head/śikhā, gold leaf highlighting kavaca layers, temple lamp glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step nyāsa panel layout with clear hand placements and labeled loci (hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca), fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic/priest in quiet chamber performing self-touch nyāsa, translucent aura layers, delicate calligraphy for ‘hūṃ phaṭ’ near the heart."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चण्डहृदयाय = चण्ड-हृदयाय; चण्डशिरसे = चण्ड-शिरसे; चण्डशिखायै = चण्ड-शिखायै; चण्डायुः = चण्ड-आयुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 76.6 (āhvāna precedes nyāsa); Agni Purāṇa 76.8 (dhyāna and Caṇḍāstra usage after nyāsa)
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa sequence—placing specific mantric syllables (hūṃ, phaṭ, oṃ) on the heart, head, and śikhā, and then applying a kavaca for āyuḥ (vital protection) associated with Caṇḍa.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise liturgical technology: bīja usage, phaṭ-kāra application, bodily nyāsa points (hṛdaya/śiras/śikhā), and kavaca-protection—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual method alongside broader dharma and lore.
The rite is intended to create a protective spiritual ‘armor’ (kavaca), stabilizing the practitioner’s vital force and warding obstacles through consecrated placement of mantra on key bodily centers.