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
Sprich «hūṃ phaṭ» zum Herzen Caṇḍas; ebenso «oṃ» zum Haupt Caṇḍas; und «oṃ hūṃ phaṭ» zur śikhā (dem Scheitelknoten) Caṇḍas; und (rezitiere) das Kavaca-Mantra für Caṇḍas āyuḥ, seine Lebenskraft.
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.