Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
सप्तजप्तं शिवास्त्रेण वेणीं बोधासिमुत्तमं शिवमात्मनि विन्यस्य सृष्ट्याधारमभीप्सितं
saptajaptaṃ śivāstreṇa veṇīṃ bodhāsimuttamaṃ śivamātmani vinyasya sṛṣṭyādhāramabhīpsitaṃ
Nachdem man das Śivāstra siebenmal rezitiert hat, (nehme man) die veṇī, den Zopf/Haarknoten, und das höchste Schwert des Erwachens (bodhāsi); indem man durch Nyāsa Śiva im eigenen Selbst einsetzt, erlangt man die gewünschte Stütze der Schöpfung.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Shaiva protective-sadhana: japa of Śivāstra, handling ritual emblems (veṇī, bodhāsi), and performing ātmanyāsa to establish Śiva-consciousness as the ‘support’ for intended rite/siddhi.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śivāstra-saptajapa with bodhāsi and ātmanyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Śivāstra","saptajapa","bodhāsi","nyāsa","sṛṣṭy-ādhāra"],"quick_summary":"Recite the Śivāstra seven times, take up the bodhāsi (sword of awakening) and veṇī emblem, then install Śiva in oneself by nyāsa to secure the desired foundational support for the rite."}
Weapon Type: Sword (bodhāsi as ritual/gnostic weapon)
Concept: Ātmanyāsa: establishing Śiva in the practitioner so agency shifts from ego to Śiva-śakti; ‘bodhāsi’ symbolizes jñāna cutting through avidyā.
Application: Before protective or siddhi-oriented rites, perform a fixed-count japa and self-installation to stabilize attention and sacralize the practitioner as the locus of worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Shiva-kalpa and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Shaiva practitioner recites the Śivāstra, holds a symbolic sword of awakening, touches body-points in nyāsa, and visualizes Śiva established within as the support of creation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ascetic with matted hair, subtle blue-grey Śiva aura behind, ritual sword glowing, hands performing nyāsa on chest and head, minimal background, strong outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with gold aura, luminous sword (bodhāsi) with gem-like hilt, seven small mantra-flame motifs around, ornate devotional framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa touch-points, practitioner seated in padmāsana, sword placed on lap, calm palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with prayer mat, practitioner holding a slender sword, delicate depiction of hand gestures, faint divine silhouette of Śiva in the background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bodha+asim+uttamam → bodhāsimuttamam; śivam+ātmani → śivamātmani; sṛṣṭi+ādhāram → sṛṣṭyādhāram.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (Śaiva rakṣā and nyāsa subsections)
FAQs
It teaches a specific mantra-technology: sevenfold japa of the Śivāstra and performing ātmanyāsa (internal installation) of Śiva, using the symbolic implements veṇī and bodhāsi to stabilize the rite and its intended effect.
Alongside mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied liturgical instructions—counted japa, nyāsa, and mantra-astra concepts—showing it as a manual of ritual practice (prayoga) as well as doctrine.
By installing Śiva within oneself through nyāsa after disciplined japa, the practitioner seeks inner purification, protection, and alignment with the cosmic ‘support of creation’ (sṛṣṭyādhāra), culminating in the fulfillment of the intended aim (abhīpsita).