Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 2
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
निमज्याचम्य विन्यस्य सिंहेन कृतरक्षकः ह्रीं त्वरितायै, ह्रीं ऐं क्लीं सौ त्रिपुरा इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कृतरक्षण इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विधिस्नानं ततः कुर्यात् प्राणायामपुरःसरं
nimajyācamya vinyasya siṃhena kṛtarakṣakaḥ hrīṃ tvaritāyai, hrīṃ aiṃ klīṃ sau tripurā iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kṛtarakṣaṇa iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vidhisnānaṃ tataḥ kuryāt prāṇāyāmapuraḥsaraṃ
Habiéndose sumergido (en el agua) y realizado el ācamana, y tras efectuar el nyāsa prescrito, debe establecerse la protección mediante la fórmula mantrica ‘Siṃha’. (Recitando) “Hrīṃ, a Tvaritā”, o bien, según otra lectura señalada, “Hrīṃ aiṃ klīṃ sau—Tripurā”. Concluido así el rito de protección, debe realizarse luego el baño ritual conforme a la regla, precedido por prāṇāyāma.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Gives a protective pre-bath sequence: immersion, ācamana, nyāsa, rakṣā via Siṃha-mantra, optional bīja-variants (Tvaritā/Tripurā), then rule-based snāna preceded by prāṇāyāma.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-pūrvaka Rakṣā: Nyāsa, Siṃha-mantra, and Bīja Variants (Tvaritā/Tripurā)","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","siṃha-mantra","rakṣā","hrīṃ aiṃ klīṃ sau","prāṇāyāma"],"quick_summary":"Before ritual bathing, perform immersion and ācamana, execute nyāsa, establish protective enclosure with the Siṃha formula, optionally using Tvaritā/Tripurā bīja readings, then bathe according to rule after prāṇāyāma."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on preparatory purification (ācāmana), embodiment of mantra through nyāsa, and safeguarding the rite via rakṣā and regulated breath.
Application: Adopt a consistent pre-rite protocol: ācamana → nyāsa → rakṣā-mantra → prāṇāyāma → snāna, especially before mantra-japa/pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Mantra-nyasa and Ritual Bathing Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner at a bathing ghat: first dips, performs ācamana, touches body points for nyāsa, visualizes a lion-emblem protective aura, then sits briefly for prāṇāyāma before bathing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential ritual tableau: dipping in water, ācamana gesture, nyāsa touch-points, lion-symbol aura behind, calm river setting, bold outlines and earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, devotee near ornate water tank, gold-highlighted lion emblem (Siṃha) behind as protective halo, bīja syllables subtly inscribed, rich reds and greens, heavy ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled nyāsa points, small lion icon indicating rakṣā, devotee seated for prāṇāyāma, delicate linework and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, riverside pavilion, devotee performing ācamana and nyāsa, faint calligraphy of bījas in the air, refined detailing of water ripples and garments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nimajyācamya = nimajya + ācamya; vidhisnānaṃ = vidhi-snānām; mantra-bīja syllables treated as avyaya; editorial notes ‘kha/gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ’ omitted as non-verse apparatus.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 22 (snāna-vidhi: rakṣā, nyāsa, prāṇāyāma); Agni Purana 21 (mantra-japa preliminaries)
FAQs
It teaches a sequence used in Tantric-ritual purification: immersion and ācamana, followed by mantra-nyāsa and a protective rakṣā using a ‘Siṃha’ formula, then performing a rule-based ritual bath preceded by prāṇāyāma.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves applied ritual technology—specific steps (ācamana, nyāsa, rakṣā, prāṇāyāma) and Śākta mantras (Tvaritā/Tripurā)—showing the text’s coverage of practical liturgy and Tantra alongside other sciences.
The verse frames bathing not as mere hygiene but as consecrated purification: prāṇāyāma steadies the mind, nyāsa sacralizes the body, and rakṣā-mantras establish spiritual protection—supporting ritual fitness (adhikāra) and inner purity.