Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
जीर्णोद्धारः (Jīrṇoddhāra) — Renovation and Ritual Handling of Defective Liṅgas and Old Shrines
ॐ व्यापकेश्वरायेति नाट्यन्तं शिववादिना अकेश्वरायेति तत्त्वेनाभ्यन्तरादिने इति ख ॐ व्यापकेश्वरायेति नात्यन्तशिववाचिनेति घ ॐ व्यापकेश्वरायेति तत्त्वेनात्यन्तवादिने इति छ ॐ व्यापकं हृदयेश्वराय नमः ॐ व्यापकेश्वराय शिरसे नमः इत्य् आद्यङ्गमन्त्राः ततस्तत्राश्रितं तत्त्वं श्रावयेदस्त्रमस्ततः
oṃ vyāpakeśvarāyeti nāṭyantaṃ śivavādinā akeśvarāyeti tattvenābhyantarādine iti kha oṃ vyāpakeśvarāyeti nātyantaśivavācineti gha oṃ vyāpakeśvarāyeti tattvenātyantavādine iti cha oṃ vyāpakaṃ hṛdayeśvarāya namaḥ oṃ vyāpakeśvarāya śirase namaḥ ity ādyaṅgamantrāḥ tatastatrāśritaṃ tattvaṃ śrāvayedastramastataḥ
«Om, salutations à Vyāpakeśvara»—telle est la récitation. Des variantes sont aussi transmises : «(Om)… celui qui enseigne la doctrine de Śiva sans excès» ; «(Om)… celui qui énonce l’enseignement de Śiva sans excès» ; et «(Om)… celui qui enseigne la doctrine ultime par le principe (tattva)». Viennent ensuite les aṅga-mantras initiaux : «Om, hommage au Seigneur omniprésent du Cœur» ; «Om, hommage à Vyāpakeśvara à la Tête». Puis on fera que le tattva établi là soit “entendu/activé”, et l’on appliquera ensuite l’Astra-mantra.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in Agni Purana’s ritual/vidhi sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa and aṅga-mantra deployment for Śaiva worship: reciting Vyāpakeśvara-mantra variants, placing mantras on heart and head, ‘activating’ the installed tattva, then sealing/protecting with Astra-mantra.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vyāpakeśvara-mantra variants with aṅga-mantras and Astra application","lookup_keywords":["Vyāpakeśvara mantra","aṅga-mantra hṛdaya śiras","nyāsa","tattva-śrāvaṇa/activation","astra-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Use the Vyāpakeśvara formula (with taught variants), perform aṅga-nyāsa at heart and head, awaken/confirm the tattva in the locus, and conclude with Astra-mantra for ritual sealing and protection."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric ‘weapon’ used ritually for protection/sealing)
Concept: Mantra is not mere sound: it is installed in limbs (aṅga-nyāsa), linked to tattva, and sealed by Astra—integrating body, locus, and doctrine (śiva-vāda/tattva).
Application: Perform nyāsa systematically (heart/head etc.), then use Astra to protect the practitioner and stabilize the consecration/worship space.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Anga-mantra Prayoga (Shaiva-tantric orientation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs aṅga-nyāsa: touching heart and head while reciting ‘Vyāpakeśvara’ mantras; subtle radiance indicates tattva activation; a final protective gesture signifies Astra-mantra sealing around the altar/liṅga.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized priest before a liṅga, right hand touching heart then head (nyāsa), sacred syllables drawn as flowing script, circular protective aura (astra) around shrine, lamp-lit temple interior, flat iconic forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central liṅga with ornate arch, priest in profile doing nyāsa mudrā, gold leaf highlighting mantra-letters and protective ring (astra), rich jewel tones, devotional symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: two panels showing hṛdaya-nyāsa and śiras-nyāsa, small captions for ‘hṛdayeśvara’ and ‘śirase’, final panel with Astra protective circle, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine scene with detailed textiles, priest performing touch-gestures at heart and head, calligraphic mantra ribbons, faint geometric protective boundary around altar, delicate architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"mystic","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाट्यन्तं/नात्यन्त = न + अत्यन्तम् (पाठभेद); तत्त्वेनाभ्यन्तरादिने = तत्त्वेन + अभ्यन्तरादिने; तत्त्वेनात्यन्तवादिने = तत्त्वेन + अत्यन्तवादिने; इत्य् = इति; ततस्तत्राश्रितं = ततः + तत्र + आश्रितम्; श्रावयेदस्त्रम् = श्रावयेत् + अस्त्रम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 103 (nyāsa and aṅga-mantra sequence around liṅga worship); Agni Purana mantra-kalpa passages where Astra and aṅga-nyāsa are defined
FAQs
It teaches the practical sequence of Śiva-mantra usage with textual variants, followed by aṅga-mantras for heart and head placement (nyāsa), and then the protective Astra-mantra application.
It preserves a detailed, procedural ritual micro-technology—mantra variants, limb-mantras, and protective deployment—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of tantric-ritual method alongside its many other disciplines.
By establishing the deity’s presence through nyāsa and sealing the rite with the Astra-mantra, the practitioner is understood to gain purification, protection from obstacles, and increased efficacy (siddhi) of the worship.