Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 66: साधारणप्रतिष्ठाविधानम्
The Procedure for General Consecration
मात्राभिर्भेदयित्वा तु दीर्घाण्यङ्गानि भेदयेत् प्रथमं कल्पयेद्वीजं सविन्दुं प्रणवं नतिं
mātrābhirbhedayitvā tu dīrghāṇyaṅgāni bhedayet prathamaṃ kalpayedvījaṃ savinduṃ praṇavaṃ natiṃ
Après avoir distingué les sons selon leurs mātrā (unités de quantité), il faut aussi discerner les éléments longs. D’abord, on doit composer le bīja (syllabe-semence) avec le bindu (point nasal), avec le praṇava (Oṁ) et la nati (formule d’inclination).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s mantra-vidhi sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Constructing bīja-mantras by phonetic analysis (mātrā/quantity, dīrgha/long elements) and appending bindu, praṇava (Oṁ), and obeisance formula for ritual efficacy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bīja-nirmāṇa by mātrā-bheda with bindu, praṇava, and nati","lookup_keywords":["bīja-mantra","mātrā-bheda","dīrgha","bindu","praṇava"],"quick_summary":"Differentiate sounds by mātrā (prosodic/phonetic quantity), mark long components, then form the seed syllable and complete it with bindu, prefixed/suffixed by Oṁ and a nati (namas) formula as prescribed."}
Concept: Mantra-siddhi depends on correct śabda-śuddhi: quantity (mātrā), length (dīrgha), and completion markers (bindu) with praṇava and namas.
Application: In japa/nyāsa, ensure correct vowel length and bindu; frame the bīja with Oṁ and namas per lineage to avoid phonetic/ritual faults.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya (Tantric/Vedic phonetics and bija-mantra construction)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mantra-acharya draws phonetic units on a board: short/long mātrās, then writes a bīja with a bindu, adding Oṁ and a namas formula.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, acharya with stylus, phonetic chart of mātrās, bīja syllable with bindu prominently shown, Oṁ at top, ritual desk with ink and palm leaves","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central bīja syllable with bindu in gold, Oṁ above, namas below, acharya seated with disciples, ornate gold borders and temple lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: mātrā marks, dīrgha indicators, step-by-step bīja construction, calm scholarly palette, precise calligraphy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scribe and pandit composing a mantra diagram, fine ink details showing bindu and vowel lengths, elegant study room with instruments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mātrābhirbhedayitvā → mātrābhiḥ + bhedayitvā; dīrghāṇyaṅgāni → dīrghāṇi + aṅgāni; kalpayedvījaṃ → kalpayet + bījam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 66.2 (ādya-akṣara basis); Agni Purana 66.4 (mūla-mantra as ritual root)
FAQs
It teaches a technical method for forming/standardizing mantras: analyze syllables by mātrā (quantity), distinguish long sounds, and then construct the bīja with bindu, preceded/paired with praṇava (Oṁ) and completed with an obeisance (nati/namas-style) element.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical “sound-science” toolkit—phonetics, mantra-grammar, and ritual formula design—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of technical disciplines used in temple and tantric practice.
By prescribing correct mantra formation (proper quantity, bindu, and praṇava with reverential closure), it emphasizes purity and efficacy of recitation—reducing ritual fault (doṣa) and aligning the practitioner with disciplined devotion (nati).