Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
त्रिः समावर्तयेन् मन्त्री मनसा शिवसंहितां आचम्य न्यस्य सन्ध्याञ्च ब्राह्मीं प्रातः स्मरेन्नरः
triḥ samāvartayen mantrī manasā śivasaṃhitāṃ ācamya nyasya sandhyāñca brāhmīṃ prātaḥ smarennaraḥ
Der Mantra-Übende soll die Sammlung der Śiva-Mantras dreimal im Geist rezitieren; dann, nachdem er ācamana (Reinigung mit Wasser) vollzogen und nyāsa (Auflegung des Mantras auf den Körper) ausgeführt hat, soll er am Morgen der Brāhmī-Sandhyā gedenken.
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory and mantra-ritual procedure in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Daily morning discipline: mental repetition of Śiva-mantra collection thrice, followed by ācamana, nyāsa, and remembrance of Brāhmī Sandhyā as a structured start to worship and japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Morning Sandhyā Sequence: Śiva-saṃhitā Japa, Ācamana, Nyāsa, Brāhmī Smaraṇa","lookup_keywords":["Śiva-saṃhitā (mantra collection)","trir-āvartana","ācāmana","nyāsa","Brāhmī sandhyā"],"quick_summary":"Perform three mental recitations of the Śiva-mantra set, purify by sipping water (ācāmana), establish mantras on the body (nyāsa), and then recollect the Brāhmī Sandhyā at dawn."}
Concept: Nitya-karman as mind-training: purification (ācāmana), embodiment of mantra (nyāsa), and dawn recollection (sandhyā-smaraṇa) to align conduct and awareness.
Application: Adopt a repeatable morning protocol: mental japa first (to gather attention), then bodily/ritual purification, then contemplative remembrance to set the day’s dharmic tone.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Sandhya, Mantra-japa, Smarana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a practitioner sits facing east, eyes half-closed for mental japa, then performs ācamana with a small water vessel, touches nyāsa points, and contemplates Brāhmī Sandhyā as a radiant presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dawn sky gradient behind a simple shrine, sādhaka seated with kamaṇḍalu, subtle depiction of Brāhmī as a luminous feminine presence, restrained ornament, traditional pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Brāhmī Sandhyā visualized as a golden radiance above the altar, sādhaka performing ācamana, heavy gold work on halo and ornaments, rich temple interior.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean, didactic scene—sequence panels (japa, ācamana, nyāsa, smaraṇa), delicate lines, soft colors, labeled ritual items (pātra, japa-mālā).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: terrace at sunrise, sādhaka with rosary and water cup, fine architectural details, pale dawn hues, calligraphic border suggesting mantra recitation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samāvartayen → samāvartayet; sandhyāñca → sandhyām + ca; smarennaraḥ → smaret + naraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (sandhyā, nyāsa, dhyāna sequences for different times of day)
FAQs
It prescribes a morning sādhana sequence: mental recitation of a Śiva-mantra cycle three times, followed by ācamana (purificatory sipping) and nyāsa (mantra-installation on the body), culminating in remembrance/meditation on the Brāhmī Sandhyā.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual: this verse preserves technical liturgical steps (japa-count, ācamana, nyāsa, sandhyā-smaraṇa) that bridge Purāṇic devotion with Vedic-style daily discipline and later tantric-ritual vocabulary.
The sequence emphasizes purification and correct mantra-embodiment (nyāsa) before sandhyā contemplation, presenting morning remembrance as a daily reset of ritual purity, focus, and merit through disciplined Śiva-oriented worship.