Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 7
सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः (Sakalādi-mantra-uddhāra) — Chapter Colophon/Transition
तन्महेशाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि अप्_३१७*१अब्तत्रः शिवः प्रचोदयात् गायत्री सर्वसाधनी अप्_३१७*१च्द्यात्रायां विजयादौ च यजेत् पूर्वङ्गणं श्रिये तुर्यांशे तु पुरा क्षेत्रे समन्तादर्कभाजिते
tanmaheśāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi ap_317*1abtatraḥ śivaḥ pracodayāt gāyatrī sarvasādhanī ap_317*1cdyātrāyāṃ vijayādau ca yajet pūrvaṅgaṇaṃ śriye turyāṃśe tu purā kṣetre samantādarkabhājite
Nous connaissons et contemplons Mahēśa; nous méditons sur Mahādeva—que Śiva inspire notre intelligence. Cette Gāyatrī est un mantra qui accomplit tout. Au départ d’un voyage et au commencement d’un rite de victoire, on doit accomplir le culte préliminaire pour la śrī (prospérité) dans le premier avant-cour; et, dans le quatrième quartier, dans un ancien kṣetra/enceinte sacrée, illuminé de toutes parts par le soleil.
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s common frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Śiva-Gāyatrī japa and pūrvāṅga-pūjā as an auspicious preliminary for travel (yātrā) and victory-rites (vijaya-kriyā), choosing a ritually ‘bright/open’ precinct for effectiveness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Śiva-Gāyatrī for Yātrā-Vijaya Pūrvāṅga","lookup_keywords":["Śiva Gāyatrī","Mahēśa Mahādeva","yātrā pūrvāṅga","vijaya-vidhi","śrī-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"The Śiva-Gāyatrī is presented as sarva-sādhanī (universally efficacious). It is prescribed as a preliminary worship for prosperity before journeys and victory-rites, performed in an auspicious forecourt/quarter of a sun-lit sacred precinct."}
Concept: Mantra as buddhi-pracodana (inspiration/illumination of intellect) and as a universal means (sarva-sādhanī) when yoked to right place-time and pūrvāṅga.
Application: Before major actions, stabilize intention through japa and pūjā; align with auspicious spatial orientation (forecourt/quarters) to reduce obstacles and strengthen confidence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra, Gayatri, Yatra-vijaya rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler or king performs preliminary worship to Śiva in a temple forecourt; the sun illuminates an ancient sacred precinct; a priest recites Śiva-Gāyatrī before departure or victory rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Śiva as Mahēśa in serene stance with matted locks and crescent moon, priest performing pūrvāṅga in a sunlit temple courtyard, warm earthy palette, stylized lotus borders, sacred lamp and kalasha, devotional atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva icon with gold leaf halo, devotee offering flowers and incense in the first forecourt, bright sun motif around the kṣetra, ornate arch, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing forecourt and quartered precinct layout, priest reciting Śiva-Gāyatrī with labeled zones (pūrvāṅga, turya-aṃśa), soft shading, delicate linework, calm ritual setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly traveler/king with attendants at a temple courtyard, Brahmin priest chanting, sunlit open precinct, fine architectural detail, subdued yet luminous colors, narrative moment before journey/victory"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tan-maheśāya → tat + maheśāya (final -t before m); vijayādau → vijaya-ādau; pūrvaṅgaṇam → pūrva-aṅgaṇam; turyāṃśe → turya-aṃśe; samantādarkabhājite → samantāt + arka-bhājite. Some tokens include edition markers (ap_317*...). Reading 'tatraḥ' likely 'tatra'.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mantra-gāyatrī sections; yātrā-vidhi and vijaya-vidhi passages within Pūjā-vidhi khāṇḍa (adjacent verses 317.6–317.12)
FAQs
It gives the Śiva-Gāyatrī (a Gāyatrī-metered Śiva-mantra) and prescribes its practical use as a sarva-sādhana mantra, along with the instruction to perform preliminary worship in the forecourt and a specified quarter of a sacred precinct at the start of travel or victory rites.
It blends mantra-vidyā (Śaiva Gāyatrī) with applied ritual logistics—timing (journey/victory commencement), spatial placement (forecourt, quarter/section), and auspicious setting (sun-lit sacred area), showing the text’s coverage of both theology and operational ritual procedure.
Reciting the Śiva-Gāyatrī seeks divine inspiration (pracodana) and auspicious success; performing the prescribed preliminary worship is framed as a merit-producing act that aligns one’s undertaking (travel or campaign) with Śiva’s favor and śrī (prosperity).