Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 91 — विविधमन्त्रादिकथनम्
Teaching of Various Mantras and Related Matters
कठिन्या जप्तया स्पृष्टे गोमूत्राकृतिरेखया आरभ्यैकं त्रिकं यावत्त्रिचतुष्कावसानकं
kaṭhinyā japtayā spṛṣṭe gomūtrākṛtirekhayā ārabhyaikaṃ trikaṃ yāvattricatuṣkāvasānakaṃ
Wenn (Ritus/Objekt) durch das ordnungsgemäß rezitierte Mantra „Kaṭhinī“ berührt worden ist, soll man mit dem Linienzug in der Krümmung der „Kuhurin“-Form beginnen; ausgehend von einem einzelnen (Strich/Zeichen), dann in Dreiergruppen fortfahrend, bis die Folge mit Dreier- und Vierergruppen endet.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective rite combining mantra-japa (Kaṭhinī) with ritual touch (sparśa) and prescribed line-drawing (rekhā) in a specific curve-form, proceeding by counted strokes/groups to complete the diagram.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kaṭhinī-Mantra Sparśa and Gomūtrākṛti Rekhā: Counted Stroke-Sequence (1 → triads → tri+four end)","lookup_keywords":["kaṭhinī-mantra","sparśa","gomūtrākṛti","rekhā","saṅkhyā-krama"],"quick_summary":"After empowering by Kaṭhinī-mantra and touch, draw the protective line in the gomūtra-curve form, beginning with a single mark and continuing in counted groupings until the terminal triad-and-four sequence is completed."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is presented as a synthesis of mantra (sound), sparśa (contact/intent), and rekhā (form), governed by number-sequence (krama).
Application: Perform the rite with purity and consistency: complete the japa, do the prescribed touch, then execute the line exactly by the stated counting order to ‘seal’ the protection.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Protective rites and ritual applications)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner finishing japa on a mala, touching the ritual object/diagram, then drawing a distinctive curved line (gomūtra-shape) on a prepared surface, with counted marks indicated beside the curve (1, 3, 3, …, ending with 3 and 4).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold curved gomūtra line on a ritual board, practitioner with mala and stylus, clear numeric group markers, flat colors, sacred lamp nearby, emphasis on gesture and curve.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate ritual scene with gold highlights on the curve and border, practitioner in traditional attire, mala and stylus, the gomūtra-shaped line central and luminous, rich background textiles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction: step-by-step curve drawing with small numbered clusters, practitioner’s hand emphasized, soft palette, high legibility.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, close-up of hand drawing a curved line on paper/board, rosary on the side, fine calligraphy of numbers, detailed textiles and tools, subtle gold."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गोमूत्राकृतिरेखया → गो-मूत्र-आकृति-रेखया. आरभ्यैकं → आरभ्य एकम्. यावत्त्रिचतुष्कावसानकं → यावत् त्रि-चतुष्क-अवसानकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: immediately preceding yantra-lekhana instructions (ch. 91); Agni Purana: other rakṣā-prayoga and mantra-sparśa usages in Mantra-vidyā sections
FAQs
It gives a precise mantra-prayoga: after consecrating by touch with the Kaṭhinī mantra (japa), one draws an auspicious protective line (rekhā) in a gomūtra-shaped curve, laid out in a counted sequence of strokes/groups (1, then triads, concluding with triads and tetrads).
Beyond theology, it preserves highly technical procedural details—how to consecrate (sparśa), how to draw ritual diagrams (rekhā/lekha akin to yantra practice), and how to follow numeric patterning—showing the Agni Purana as a manual of applied ritual technology.
The consecrating touch with mantra and the auspicious rekha-pattern are intended to establish ritual purity and protective efficacy (rakṣā), aligning the act with dharmic order and generating merit through correct performance of prescribed rite.