Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 58
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
विसृज्य पितरौ दद्याद्वौषडन्तशिवाणुना पूरणाय विधिः पूर्णा निवृत्तिरिति शोधिता
visṛjya pitarau dadyādvauṣaḍantaśivāṇunā pūraṇāya vidhiḥ pūrṇā nivṛttiriti śodhitā
Nachdem man die eingeladenen Pitṛs (Ahnen) ehrerbietig entlassen hat, soll man sodann die abschließende Opfergabe mit dem Śiva-Mantra darbringen, das auf „vauṣaṭ“ endet, zur Vollendung des Ritus. So wird das Verfahren vollständig; dies wird als die rechte „nivṛtti“ (Rücknahme/Schließung) des Rituals erklärt.
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s usual narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Śrāddha closure protocol: formally dismiss invited Pitṛs and seal the rite with a concluding oblation (pūrṇāhuti) using a Śiva-mantra ending in “vauṣaṭ,” ensuring no ritual ‘leakage’ and correct termination (nivṛtti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śrāddha Nivṛtti (Ritual Closure) with Vauṣaṭ Śiva-mantra","lookup_keywords":["śrāddha","nivṛtti","pūrṇāhuti","vauṣaṭ","pitṛ-visarjana"],"quick_summary":"After Pitṛ-invitation and offerings, the rite is properly closed by dismissing the Pitṛs and offering the final oblation with a Śiva-mantra ending in vauṣaṭ; this is the sanctioned nivṛtti (withdrawal/closure)."}
Concept: Ritual acts require proper saṃhāra (closure) to be complete; nivṛtti is an essential limb of karma-kāṇḍa procedure.
Application: In śrāddha and similar rites, always perform visarjana and a final sealing oblation/mantra to conclude the adhikāra and avoid procedural fault (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Śrāddha-vidhi (Pitṛ-kriyā and ritual offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śrāddha setting: the performer completes offerings, respectfully dismisses the Pitṛs, and pours a final oblation into the fire while uttering a Śiva-mantra ending in ‘vauṣaṭ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm ochres and reds, a gṛhastha priest before a small homa-kuṇḍa, pitṛs symbolically seated on darbha, gesture of visarjana, final oblation with ‘vauṣaṭ’, sacred minimal background, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on the homa fire and vessels, priest in white, darbha grass, śrāddha plates, subtle divine presence of Śiva as mantra-shakti, frontal composition, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework, instructional clarity: sequence panels showing (1) pitṛ-visarjana (2) pūrṇāhuti with ‘vauṣaṭ’, labeled ritual items (sruk, ājyapātra, kuṇḍa)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed domestic courtyard, small fire altar, attendants holding vessels, the priest offering ghee, calligraphic ‘vauṣaṭ’ motif in margin, delicate flora border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्याद्वौषडन्तशिवाणुना = दद्यात् + वौषट्-अन्त-शिव-अणुना; निवृत्तिरिति = निवृत्तिः + इति; रुद्राश्/तत्त्वान्येतानि इत्यादि प्रकारे विसर्ग/श्चुत्व-सन्धिः।
Related Themes: Śrāddha-vidhi sections on āvāhana (invitation) and visarjana (dismissal) preceding this verse; Agni Purāṇa chapters on mantra-prayoga and pūrṇāhuti conventions
FAQs
It prescribes the formal closure of a Śrāddha: dismiss the Pitṛs and offer a concluding oblation using a Śiva-mantra that ends with “vauṣaṭ,” specifically to complete (pūraṇa) the rite.
It records precise procedural micro-steps—dismissal, mantra-type, and the function of a final oblation—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a practical manual that codifies ritual technique alongside broader theology.
Correctly concluding the Śrāddha (nivṛtti) is treated as necessary for the rite to be ‘complete’ and purified, ensuring the offering properly reaches the Pitṛs and the performer avoids ritual deficiency (apūrṇatā) and its karmic fault.