Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 87
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शिवे प्रक्षेपयेत् पुष्पमपनीयार्चकन्तारं तत्पात्रस्थानमन्त्राढ्यं शिवदेवगणानुगं
śive prakṣepayet puṣpamapanīyārcakantāraṃ tatpātrasthānamantrāḍhyaṃ śivadevagaṇānugaṃ
Man soll eine Blume auf Śiva werfen; nachdem man das (rituell) Unreine oder Hinderliche in der Nähe des Verehrenden entfernt hat, soll man sodann das passende Gefäß und seinen Platz einsetzen, reich von Mantras begleitet, im Einklang mit Śiva und den Scharen seiner Gottheiten (gaṇa).
Lord Agni (in narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Śiva-pūjā step: offering a पुष्प (flower) to Śiva, removing ritual obstacles/impurity near the worshipper, then establishing the correct vessel and its placement with mantra-support, aligned with Śiva and his gaṇas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Puṣpa-prakṣepa, doṣa/antarāya-apohana, and mantra-yukta pātra-sthāpana in Śiva-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["puṣpa","pātra-sthāpana","mantra","gaṇa","apohana"],"quick_summary":"Offer a flower to Śiva, clear obstructive/impure factors from the worship space, and install the ritual vessel in its proper place with accompanying mantras, invoking harmony with Śiva and his gaṇas."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on both devotion (flower offering) and correct ritual ecology—removing obstacles and establishing supports (pātra, mantra, retinue alignment).
Application: Before key offerings, tidy and ritually ‘clear’ the space; place vessels consistently and accompany actions with appropriate mantras to maintain continuity of worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śiva-pūjā and mantra-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper casts a flower onto the Śiva-liṅga, then ritually clears the area (sweeping/aspersion), and carefully places a consecrated vessel on its marked spot while chanting, with gaṇas subtly depicted as protective attendants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva-liṅga with garlands, devotee tossing a flower mid-air, priest clearing space with water/kuśa, vessel placed on a yantra-marked altar, faint gaṇa figures in the background, lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished Śiva shrine, dramatic flower offering, ornate ritual vessels with gold accents, gaṇa attendants stylized, rich reds and greens, symmetrical altar layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, procedural clarity: three-step composition—flower offering, clearing impurity, vessel placement with mantra scroll, clean lines and soft colors, instructional emphasis on placement","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual room with patterned floor, flower thrown toward liṅga, attendant removing obstructive items, vessel set precisely, subtle gaṇa imagery in architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puṣpam + apanīya → puṣpamapanīya; apanīya + arcaka-antāram → apanīyārcakantāram; tat + pātra-sthāna-mantra-āḍhyam → tatpātrasthānamantrāḍhyam; śiva + deva + gaṇa + anugam → śivadevagaṇānugam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (upacāra sequence; mantra accompaniment; pūjā layout)
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva pūjā step: offering a flower to Śiva, removing ritual hindrances/impurities around the officiant, and correctly placing the worship vessel(s) with proper mantra-recitation.
By preserving precise, procedural temple-and-home worship instructions (pūjā-vidhi)—including purity management, vessel placement, and mantra protocol—alongside the Purana’s many other technical domains.
It emphasizes purity, order, and mantra-alignment in worship, which are traditionally held to make the offering effective, remove obstacles (vighna), and secure Śiva’s grace through correct observance.