Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
व्याहृत्या वाथ गायत्र्या मूलेनामन्त्रयेत्तथा सूर्याय प्रजापतये द्यौः स्वाहा चान्तरिक्षकः
vyāhṛtyā vātha gāyatryā mūlenāmantrayettathā sūryāya prajāpataye dyauḥ svāhā cāntarikṣakaḥ
Ensuite, on doit consacrer (invoquer) par les Vyāhṛti ou par la Gāyatrī, et de même par le mantra-racine (mūla-mantra). Puis (offrir/réciter) pour Sūrya et pour Prajāpati : « Dyauḥ, svāhā », et aussi pour Antarikṣa, la région médiane.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Mantra-prayoga for homa: consecration/invocation using Vyāhṛtis or Gāyatrī and the mūla-mantra, with specific svāhā offerings to cosmic deities/regions (Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ, Antarikṣa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vyāhṛti/Gāyatrī-based Āmantraṇa and Svāhā Offerings to Sūrya–Prajāpati–Dyauḥ–Antarikṣa","lookup_keywords":["vyahriti","gayatri","mula-mantra","surya-svaha","prajapati-dyauh-antariksha"],"quick_summary":"Invoke with Vyāhṛtis or Gāyatrī and the root-mantra, then perform svāhā offerings addressed to Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ (heaven), and Antarikṣa (mid-region)."}
Concept: Mantra as a bridge between micro-ritual and macrocosm: vyāhṛtis and gāyatrī align the sacrificer with the three worlds and their regulators.
Application: Use as a mantra-sequence template for homa where cosmic deities/regions must be explicitly satisfied before/alongside the main deity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and Homa/Anusthana procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa priest seated before a blazing kuṇḍa, chanting Vyāhṛtis and Gāyatrī, then offering ladlefuls with ‘svāhā’ to Sūrya and Prajāpati; above, symbolic bands of Dyauḥ and Antarikṣa depicted as heaven and mid-sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest by fire altar, stylized sun-disc for Sūrya, Prajāpati as luminous creator figure, layered sky zones labeled Dyauḥ and Antarikṣa in traditional iconographic clouds, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, radiant Sūrya with gold halo, Prajāpati enthroned subtly behind, central homa fire with gold highlights, priest offering svāhā, ornate frame and temple arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear didactic composition: priest, kuṇḍa, mantra scroll motif showing Vyāhṛtis/Gāyatrī, icons for Dyauḥ (upper sky) and Antarikṣa (middle band), neat detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual scene with celestial margin: sun medallion, airy mid-sky band, priest in profile offering into fire, delicate calligraphic mantra cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (or Lalit)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मूलेनामन्त्रयेत् → मूलेन + आमन्त्रयेत्; चान्तरिक्षकः → च + अन्तरिक्षकः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-prayoga sections for homa; vyāhṛti-nyāsa and gāyatrī usage in pūjā (same khanda)
FAQs
It prescribes a mantra-prayoga: ritually charging the act (āmantraṇa) using Vyāhṛtis or the Gāyatrī, together with the rite’s mūla-mantra, and directing offerings/recitations to cosmic deities—Sūrya, Prajāpati, Dyauḥ, and Antarikṣa—using the homa call “svāhā.”
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s procedural cataloging of ritual technology—specific mantra options (Vyāhṛti/Gāyatrī/mūla-mantra) and deity-targeted invocations—showing how the text functions as a practical manual alongside its broader mythic and doctrinal materials.
By aligning the rite with Vedic mantra-forms and cosmic principles (heaven and mid-space, sun and progenitor), the practitioner is taught to purify intention and action, stabilize the offering, and accrue merit through correctly addressed oblations and sanctified recitation.