Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 3
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
अगस्त्यस्य पदे कुर्याद्योनिद्वारं प्रविश्य च निर्गतो न पुनर्योनिं प्रविशेन्मुच्यते भवात्
agastyasya pade kuryādyonidvāraṃ praviśya ca nirgato na punaryoniṃ praviśenmucyate bhavāt
Au “pas/siège” sacré d’Agastya, on doit accomplir le rite ; après être entré par la « porte du yoni » puis en être ressorti, qu’on ne rentre plus dans le sein : on est délivré du devenir mondain (saṃsāra).
Lord Agni (narrating puranic-ritual instruction in dialogue framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Performing a liberation-oriented tirtha/yantra-like rite at Agastya’s sacred seat involving symbolic passage through a ‘yoni-dvāra’ (womb-gate) as a vow not to re-enter saṃsāra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Agastya-pada Yoni-dvāra-praveśa (Saṃsāra-mokṣa rite)","lookup_keywords":["Agastya-pada","yoni-dvāra","praveśa","mokṣa","saṃsāra-bandha"],"quick_summary":"The verse encodes a ritual act at Agastya’s sacred footprint/seat: enter the ‘yoni-gate’, emerge, and ritually vow non-return—symbolizing release from rebirth."}
Concept: Nivṛtti from bhava (becoming) through symbolic severance of rebirth—‘not entering the womb again’ as a ritualized resolve toward mokṣa.
Application: Use the rite as a contemplative-vrata: after the passage, reaffirm renunciation, ethical restraint, and mantra-japa as ‘non-return’ disciplines.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Ritual and esoteric observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim at Agastya’s sacred footprint performs a liminal rite: approaching a stone/earthen ‘yoni-dvāra’, entering a narrow gateway, emerging purified, hands in añjali, with Agastya’s presence implied by a small shrine and water-tirtha nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, Agastya-tirtha setting with a small sanctum and footprint-mark, devotee entering and emerging from a stylized yoni-dvāra arch, sacred river motifs, calm śānta mood, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on Agastya’s shrine and footprint emblem, devotee in white dhoti performing añjali after emerging from a yoni-gate, rich maroon background, temple lamps, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework showing the procedural sequence (approach → enter → emerge → vow), labeled elements like ‘Agastya-pada’ and ‘yoni-dvāra’, soft pastel palette, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape with a small tirtha pavilion, a narrow arched gateway symbolizing yoni-dvāra, pilgrim emerging with attendants, fine foliage and water detailing, subdued contemplative palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याद्योनिद्वारम् = कुर्यात् + योनि-द्वारम्; पुनर्योनिम् = पुनः + योनिम्; प्रविशेन्मुच्यते = प्रविशेत् + मुच्यते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (tirtha/śrāddha-mantra context); Agni Purana sections on mantra-tantra and vrata-niyama (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a liberation-oriented ritual at Agastya’s sacred ‘pada’ involving symbolic passage through a yoni-dvāra (womb-gate), followed by the vow/resolve not to ‘enter the womb again’—i.e., aiming at cessation of rebirth.
Alongside myths and theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical rites tied to specific sacred sites and symbolic ritual technologies (tantric/pilgrimage observances) aimed at concrete soteriological outcomes such as freedom from saṃsāra.
The ‘entering and emerging’ motif functions as a ritualized rebirth-and-transcendence symbol; the stated fruit is mokṣa—release from bhava (worldly becoming), expressed as ending the cycle of taking birth again.