Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 31
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
अनन्तागच्छ चक्राढ्य कूर्मस्थाहिगणेश्वर अधोदिशं रक्ष रक्ष अनन्तेश नमोस्तु ते नमोस्तु सर्पेति यजेदनन्ताय नमोपि वा
anantāgaccha cakrāḍhya kūrmasthāhigaṇeśvara adhodiśaṃ rakṣa rakṣa ananteśa namostu te namostu sarpeti yajedanantāya namopi vā
«Ô Ananta, viens—ô porteur du disque, ô seigneur des cohortes de serpents demeurant sur la Tortue (Kūrma) ! Protège, protège la direction d’en bas (le nadir). Ô Ananteśa, salutations à toi ; salutations ! Qu’on accomplisse le culte avec la formule “Hommage, ô Serpent”, ou bien simplement “Hommage à Ananta”.»
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/protective applications)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Directional protection (dig-raksha), especially against sarpa-bhaya and subterranean/nadir influences, by invoking Ananta as guardian of the lower direction.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Ananta (Serpent-Lord) Adhodik-Raksha Mantra","lookup_keywords":["Ananta","sarpa-raksha","adhodisha","digbandha","Anantesha"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Ananta—disc-bearing lord of serpent-hosts—requesting protection of the nadir; worship may be done with either the explicit ‘namo’ sūtra to the serpent or the simpler ‘namo ’nanta’ formula."}
Concept: Dig-rakṣā through devatā-āhvāna: cosmic order is stabilized by invoking the appropriate guardian for each direction.
Application: Use as a protective preface/limb of pūjā, homa, travel, or site-rituals where serpent/underground fear is ritually addressed.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Raksha-mantra (Serpent-protection and directional guardianship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist invokes Ananta—disc-bearing serpent-lord—requesting protection of the lower direction; Ananta appears above a cosmic tortoise motif, with nāga-hosts surrounding, while the worshipper offers salutations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Ananta/Śeṣa as majestic multi-hooded serpent deity with Viṣṇu-cakra symbolism, cosmic tortoise beneath, priest in white dhoti performing rakṣā-nyāsa, rich earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition, sacred aura","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Ananta/Ananteśa enthroned with multi-hood canopy, cakra highlighted, gold foil work for ornaments and halo, stylized tortoise base, devotee offering añjali, ornate arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, ritual scene with mantra recitation, Ananta as protective guardian facing downward direction, subtle depiction of adho-diś as dark-blue lower plane, delicate jewelry detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, a pandit performing protective invocation beside a small altar, visionary apparition of Ananta with serpent retinue and a tortoise symbol, fine floral borders, lapis and vermilion palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनन्तागच्छ = अनन्त + आगच्छ; नमोस्तु = नमः + अस्तु; सर्पेति = सर्प + इति; यजेदनन्ताय = यजेत् + अनन्ताय; नमोपि = नमः + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (Dikpati-yaga context); Agni Purana 57 (kavaca/astra-mantra usage in ritual protection)
FAQs
It gives a specific rakṣā-mantra invoking Ananta/Śeṣa as nāga-lord and instructs that one should worship/recite using either the formula “namo 'stu sarpe” or simply “namo 'stu anantāya,” aiming at protection of the lower direction (adhodiśā).
Alongside theology, it preserves highly practical ritual technology—directional protection, mantra-phrases, and deity-specific appeasement—showing the text’s breadth from doctrine to applied apotropaic rites.
By saluting and ritually honoring Ananta (protector and nāga-īśvara), the practitioner seeks removal of fear and harm associated with serpent forces and gains protective merit through correct mantra-recitation and worship.
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