Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
त्रिः समावर्तयेन् मन्त्री मनसा शिवसंहितां आचम्य न्यस्य सन्ध्याञ्च ब्राह्मीं प्रातः स्मरेन्नरः
triḥ samāvartayen mantrī manasā śivasaṃhitāṃ ācamya nyasya sandhyāñca brāhmīṃ prātaḥ smarennaraḥ
Le pratiquant de mantra doit réciter mentalement trois fois la collection des mantras de Śiva ; puis, après avoir accompli l’ācamana (purification par l’eau) et le nyāsa (imposition du mantra sur le corps), il doit, au matin, se souvenir de la Sandhyā Brāhmī.
Lord Agni (narrating purificatory and mantra-ritual procedure in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Daily morning discipline: mental repetition of Śiva-mantra collection thrice, followed by ācamana, nyāsa, and remembrance of Brāhmī Sandhyā as a structured start to worship and japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Morning Sandhyā Sequence: Śiva-saṃhitā Japa, Ācamana, Nyāsa, Brāhmī Smaraṇa","lookup_keywords":["Śiva-saṃhitā (mantra collection)","trir-āvartana","ācāmana","nyāsa","Brāhmī sandhyā"],"quick_summary":"Perform three mental recitations of the Śiva-mantra set, purify by sipping water (ācāmana), establish mantras on the body (nyāsa), and then recollect the Brāhmī Sandhyā at dawn."}
Concept: Nitya-karman as mind-training: purification (ācāmana), embodiment of mantra (nyāsa), and dawn recollection (sandhyā-smaraṇa) to align conduct and awareness.
Application: Adopt a repeatable morning protocol: mental japa first (to gather attention), then bodily/ritual purification, then contemplative remembrance to set the day’s dharmic tone.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Sandhya, Mantra-japa, Smarana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a practitioner sits facing east, eyes half-closed for mental japa, then performs ācamana with a small water vessel, touches nyāsa points, and contemplates Brāhmī Sandhyā as a radiant presence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dawn sky gradient behind a simple shrine, sādhaka seated with kamaṇḍalu, subtle depiction of Brāhmī as a luminous feminine presence, restrained ornament, traditional pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Brāhmī Sandhyā visualized as a golden radiance above the altar, sādhaka performing ācamana, heavy gold work on halo and ornaments, rich temple interior.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean, didactic scene—sequence panels (japa, ācamana, nyāsa, smaraṇa), delicate lines, soft colors, labeled ritual items (pātra, japa-mālā).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: terrace at sunrise, sādhaka with rosary and water cup, fine architectural details, pale dawn hues, calligraphic border suggesting mantra recitation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samāvartayen → samāvartayet; sandhyāñca → sandhyām + ca; smarennaraḥ → smaret + naraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (sandhyā, nyāsa, dhyāna sequences for different times of day)
FAQs
It prescribes a morning sādhana sequence: mental recitation of a Śiva-mantra cycle three times, followed by ācamana (purificatory sipping) and nyāsa (mantra-installation on the body), culminating in remembrance/meditation on the Brāhmī Sandhyā.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual: this verse preserves technical liturgical steps (japa-count, ācamana, nyāsa, sandhyā-smaraṇa) that bridge Purāṇic devotion with Vedic-style daily discipline and later tantric-ritual vocabulary.
The sequence emphasizes purification and correct mantra-embodiment (nyāsa) before sandhyā contemplation, presenting morning remembrance as a daily reset of ritual purity, focus, and merit through disciplined Śiva-oriented worship.