Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Saṃskāra-kathana
Account of the Saṃskāras
अकार्पण्यञ्चास्पृहा च मूलेन जुहुयाच्छतम् सौरशाक्तेयविष्ण्वीशदीक्षास्त्वेते समाः स्मृताः
akārpaṇyañcāspṛhā ca mūlena juhuyācchatam sauraśākteyaviṣṇvīśadīkṣāstvete samāḥ smṛtāḥ
Cultivando akārpaṇya (ausencia de mezquindad) y aspṛhā (ausencia de ansia), debe ofrecerse un centenar de oblaciones con el mantra raíz (mūla-mantra). Estas iniciaciones (dīkṣā)—Saura, Śākta, Śākteya de la tradición Kaumāra, Vaiṣṇava e Īśa—son recordadas por la tradición como equivalentes (en rango).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instruction mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Guidance for dīkṣā and homa-based mantra-sādhana: cultivate inner dispositions (non-miserliness, non-craving) and perform a fixed-count oblation (100) with the mūla-mantra; recognizes equivalence of several initiation streams.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūla-mantra-homa (100 āhutis) with akārpaṇya & aspṛhā; dīkṣā-sāmya","lookup_keywords":["mūla-mantra","homa","śata-āhuti","dīkṣā","aspṛhā"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a counted homa (100 oblations) using the root-mantra, grounded in ethical prerequisites (generosity and non-craving), and states parity among Saura, Śākta/Kaumāra, Vaiṣṇava, and Īśa initiations."}
Concept: Inner renunciation (non-miserliness, non-craving) is prerequisite to effective mantra-homa; sectarian dīkṣās are treated as equal in standing when properly performed.
Application: Before homa: practice dāna and restraint; during homa: keep a strict count (100) and steady attention to the mūla-mantra; after: maintain non-attachment to results.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dīkṣā & Homa-vidhi / Mantra-sādhana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a square homa-kuṇḍa offering 100 āhutis while holding a japa-mālā; above, symbolic emblems of Saura, Śākta/Kaumāra, Vaiṣṇava, and Īśa traditions indicating equivalence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with bright agni, sādhaka in white, ladle and offering bowl, mala in hand, subtle icon-emblems (sun-disc, śakti yantra, śaṅkha-cakra, triśūla) in the background, deep temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa scene with rich gold on flames and vessels, sādhaka with serene face, four small medallions showing Saura/Śākta/ Vaiṣṇava/Īśa symbols, ornate gold borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: labeled homa-kuṇḍa, āhuti count marks (100), mūla-mantra scroll, calm palette, emphasis on procedure and posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed brass vessels, fire rendered delicately, attendant keeping count on beads, marginal symbols for the five dīkṣā streams, refined linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अकार्पण्यञ्चास्पृहा = अकार्पण्यम् + च + अस्पृहा; जुहुयाच्छतम् = जुहुयात् + शतम्; दीक्षास्त्वेते = दीक्षाः + तु + एते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi, dīkṣā-lakṣaṇa, and homa-vidhi passages in related chapters; Agni Purana: mantra-nirdeśa sections where mūla-mantra and japa counts are discussed
FAQs
It prescribes a practical dīkṣā-linked homa: perform 100 fire-offerings using the mūla-mantra, while maintaining the qualifying inner disciplines of akārpaṇya (non-miserliness) and aspṛhā (non-craving).
It catalogues multiple initiation streams (Saura, Śākta/Śākteya, Vaiṣṇava, Īśa) and frames them as equivalent, reflecting the Agni Purana’s compendious, cross-sectarian mapping of ritual systems.
The verse links external rite (100 mūla-mantra oblations) with inner purification (non-greed and non-craving), implying that effective initiation and merit depend on both correct ritual performance and ethical-mental restraint.