Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 49
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
निष्कृत्यैव हृदा पश्चाद् यजेत शतमाहुतीः मलशक्तिनिरोधेन पाशानाञ्च वियोजनं
niṣkṛtyaiva hṛdā paścād yajeta śatamāhutīḥ malaśaktinirodhena pāśānāñca viyojanaṃ
Nachdem man zunächst die innere Sühne (niṣkṛti) vollzogen hat, wobei das Herz (hṛdā) der Sitz der Absicht ist, soll man danach verehren, indem man hundert Opfergaben darbringt; durch die Zügelung der Kraft der Unreinheit (mala) erfolgt die Lösung der Fesseln (pāśa).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Prāyaścitta-oriented homa: internal expiation (hṛdā) followed by a fixed count (100) of oblations to restrain mala-śakti and loosen pāśa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛdaya-niṣkṛti with śatāhuti homa for mala-śakti-nirodha and pāśa-viyoga","lookup_keywords":["niṣkṛti","hṛdaya","śatāhuti","mala-śakti","pāśa-viyoga"],"quick_summary":"Begin with inward expiation centered in intention/heart, then offer one hundred oblations; the rite is framed as suppressing impurity’s force and effecting release from bonds."}
Concept: Outer ritual efficacy is grounded in inner niṣkṛti (hṛdaya-śuddhi); mala is treated as a power (śakti) that can be checked by disciplined rite.
Application: Pair confession/resolve (inner expiation) with measurable ritual completion (100 āhutis) for expiatory ceremonies.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Homa-prayoga (Ritual expiation and fire-offering procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner seated before a fire altar, eyes closed in inward expiation, then performing a long sequence of oblations counted to one hundred; a dark haze of impurity is shown being restrained and dispersed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, meditative priest with hand on heart, homa flames steady, stylized dark cloud (mala) held at bay by circular aura, minimal depth, strong outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed flames and vessels, the heart area of the figure subtly highlighted, a broken noose motif in the background, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional depiction with a mala (rosary) or tally marks indicating 100 offerings, neat altar layout, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with detailed brassware, attendant keeping count, smoke rendered as fine wash dispersing a shadowy veil"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"penitential","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: niṣkṛtyaiva = niṣkṛtya + eva; śatamāhutīḥ = śatam + āhutīḥ (dvigu); pāśānāñca = pāśānām + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84.48 (counted āhuti pattern); Agni Purana 84.50 (weapon-mantra homa as protective extension)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta-oriented homa: first an inner act of expiation/resolve (hṛdā), then a fixed count of offerings—one hundred āhutis—as a structured remedial rite.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual dimension: alongside theology and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa gives operational details (sequence, intent, and count of oblations) for expiatory rites.
By restraining impurity’s force (mala-śakti-nirodha) through disciplined intention and homa, the verse frames ritual as a means to loosen and sever karmic fetters (pāśa), supporting purification and spiritual release.