Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 29
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
ईशानमस्येति यजेदीशानाय नमोपि वा ब्रह्मन्नागच्छ हंसस्थ स्रुक्स्रुवव्यग्रहस्तक
īśānamasyeti yajedīśānāya namopi vā brahmannāgaccha haṃsastha sruksruvavyagrahastaka
Man soll die Verehrung mit dem Mantra „īśānam asya …“ vollziehen, oder auch mit „Ehrerbietung vor Īśāna“. (Indem man spricht:) „O Brahman, komm—auf dem Haṃsa sitzend—mit Händen, die Schöpfkelle und Opferlöffel führen.“
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Alternative mantra options for Īśāna worship, plus āvāhana of ‘Brahman’ in a yajña context with haṃsa seat and sruva/sruk implements—useful for integrating Vedic yajña tools into pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Īśāna mantra options and Brahman-āvāhana with yajña implements","lookup_keywords":["īśānam asya","Īśānāya namaḥ","Brahman āgaccha","haṃsa-stha","sruk sruva"],"quick_summary":"Worship may proceed either with the Vedic opening ‘īśānam asya…’ or a simple salutation to Īśāna; then invite Brahman visualized on a haṃsa, hands bearing ladle and offering-spoon, aligning pūjā with yajña praxis."}
Concept: Mantra-prayoga allows adhikāra-based alternatives (Vedic mantra vs. namaḥ-mantra) while preserving correct dhyāna and ritual symbolism (sruk/sruva).
Application: If full Vedic mantra is unavailable/unsuitable, use namaḥ-mantra; maintain yajña integrity by visualizing Brahman with sacrificial implements.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Īśāna-kalpa / Mantra-prayoga in Vedic-Tantric worship)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two-panel instructional scene: left shows recitation of ‘īśānam asya…’ vs ‘Īśānāya namaḥ’; right shows Brahman arriving seated on a haṃsa, holding sruk and sruva above a fire altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition, priest chanting before Śiva-Īśāna emblem, Brahman figure on haṃsa holding ladle and spoon, stylized yajña fire, bold outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Brahman on haṃsa with gold halo, sruk-sruva rendered in gold, priest below with palm-leaf text, ornate borders, rich gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout with captions for two mantra options, detailed depiction of sruk and sruva, Brahman on haṃsa above altar, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly ritual setting with manuscripts, priest demonstrating two recitations, Brahman on swan with ritual implements, precise utensils and textiles, calligraphic cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: īśānam+asi+iti→īśānamasyeti; yajet+īśānāya→yajedīśānāya; namaḥ+api→namopi; brahman+āgaccha→brahmannāgaccha.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (mantra-prayoga alternatives; yajña-linked pūjā)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mantra-prayoga for Īśāna worship: either using the Vedic-style mantra opening “īśānam asya …” or the simpler “īśānāya namaḥ,” along with an āvāhana-style invitation describing the deity’s seat (Haṃsa) and the ritual implements (sruk, sruva).
It preserves practical liturgical instructions—mantra options, deity-invocation phrasing, and correct identification of homa implements—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of ritual technology alongside theology.
Correct invocation and offering through approved mantras is presented as a means to align the rite with dharma, purify the performer, and secure the deity’s grace by performing worship in an orthodox, methodical manner.