Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
स्थण्डिले त्वर्चिते देवे मन्त्रसङ्घातमात्मनि नियोज्य विधिनोक्तेन विदध्याच्चण्डपूजनं
sthaṇḍile tvarcite deve mantrasaṅghātamātmani niyojya vidhinoktena vidadhyāccaṇḍapūjanaṃ
Wenn die Gottheit auf dem sthāṇḍila (dem vorbereiteten Ritualboden) verehrt worden ist, soll man in sich selbst die gesammelte Gesamtheit der Mantras anlegen/einpflanzen; danach hat man gemäß der vorgeschriebenen Ordnung die Verehrung Caṇḍas (der furchterregenden Gestalt der Göttin) zu vollziehen.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devatā-arcana on a prepared sthāṇḍila: after external worship, perform internal mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa (mantra-body implantation) and then execute Caṇḍa-pūjā per vidhi for protection/śakti-awakening.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sthāṇḍila-arcana with internal mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa and Caṇḍa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["sthāṇḍila","arcana","mantra-saṅghāta","nyāsa","Caṇḍa-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"After worship on the ritual ground, consolidate the ‘cluster/body of mantras’ within oneself (internal nyāsa), then perform Caṇḍa worship exactly as prescribed for effective protective/fierce rite."}
Concept: External worship is completed by internalization: mantra becomes ‘ātman’ through nyāsa, enabling effective devatā-prayoga (especially ugra forms).
Application: Before fierce/protective worship, stabilize mind-body as mantra-śarīra to maintain focus, safety, and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Devatā-arcana and Mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual ground (sthāṇḍila/maṇḍala) is prepared; the deity is worshipped there, then the practitioner performs internal nyāsa (touching heart/head etc.) to implant a mantra-cluster, preparing for Caṇḍa worship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, geometric sthāṇḍila with lotus/yantra lines, priest seated in yogic posture doing nyāsa touches, oil lamps, bold flat colors, fierce Devī/Caṇḍa aura hinted in background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate maṇḍala on floor with gold accents, priest performing nyāsa, small fierce deity vignette (Caṇḍa) with gold halo, rich textiles and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: left shows sthāṇḍila worship, right shows internal nyāsa gestures, captions for ‘mantra-saṅghāta’, calm but focused palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with patterned floor maṇḍala, priest touching chest/head in nyāsa, attendants holding pūjā items, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वर्चिते = तु + अर्चिते; मन्त्रसङ्घातमात्मनि = मन्त्र-सङ्घातम् + आत्मनि; विधिनोक्तेन = विधि-नोक्तेन; विदध्याच्चण्डपूजनं = विदध्यात् + चण्ड-पूजनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 76 (sequence: sthāṇḍila-arcana → mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa → Caṇḍa invocation/mantras in 76.6–76.8)
FAQs
It teaches a key arcana technique: after worship on the ritual ground, the practitioner performs an inner application/installation of the mantra-set (mantra-saṅghāta) in oneself (a nyāsa-like step) and then completes Caṇḍa/Caṇḍī worship according to the stated procedure.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical manual style—preserving step-by-step liturgical technology (altar/ground preparation, mantra aggregation, inner ritualization, and deity-specific worship), alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
By aligning outer worship (arcana) with inner mantra-installation (ātmani niyojana), the rite is made more integrated and efficacious, aiming at purification, protection, and the successful attainment of the worship’s intended result (siddhi/phala) through correct observance (vidhi).