Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
अस्त्राभिलब्धयालभ्य दीप्तया सर्वविग्रहं निरुद्धाक्षाणि पाणिभ्यां प्राणान् संयम्य वारिणि
astrābhilabdhayālabhya dīptayā sarvavigrahaṃ niruddhākṣāṇi pāṇibhyāṃ prāṇān saṃyamya vāriṇi
L’ayant obtenu par l’accomplissement du mantra de l’arme (astra), avec la puissance flamboyante qui pénètre tout le corps, qu’on ferme les yeux des deux mains, qu’on maîtrise les souffles vitaux (prāṇa), puis qu’on s’immerge dans l’eau.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective immersion practice: empower the body with astra-mantra ‘blaze’, close eyes, regulate breath, and enter water for purification and safeguarding.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-prayoga in Snāna: blazing protection, prāṇa-saṃyama, immersion","lookup_keywords":["astra-prayoga","prāṇa-saṃyama","nimajjana","rakṣā","bhūta-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"A mantra-protective bathing step: invoke astra power as a protective blaze over the body, close the senses, restrain breath, and immerse to complete purification."}
Alamkara Type: Dīpaka/Tejas imagery (metaphoric ‘blazing’ pervasion)
Concept: Integration of mantra (śabda), visualization (bhāvanā), sense-withdrawal, and breath-restraint to seal purification and protection.
Application: Before immersion, steady the mind: close eyes, regulate breath briefly, and perform the protective mantra to avoid distraction and maintain ritual focus.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Mantra–Astra Prayoga / Protective Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River/Pond
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner, body imagined as suffused with a blazing protective force from the astra-mantra, closes the eyes with both hands, restrains breath, and immerses into water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: figure at water’s edge with a stylized flame-aura outlining the body (tejas), hands covering eyes, poised to step into river, rhythmic wave patterns, sacred minimalism","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotee at a lotus-filled tank, golden aura/flame motif around the body indicating astra power, ornate border and gold work, moment just before immersion, ritual solemnity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of posture—hands closing eyes, chest lifted for brief prāṇa-saṃyama, then immersion; subtle flame outline, clear stepwise composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside bathing scene with delicate flame-like halo around the figure, hands over eyes, attendants holding cloth, detailed water surface and landscape, refined naturalism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्त्राभिलब्धयालभ्य→अस्त्र-अभिलब्धया आलभ्य. सर्वविग्रहं→सर्व-विग्रहम्. निरुद्धाक्षाणि→निरुद्ध-अक्षाणि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-śodhana and rakṣā-vidhi passages (astra usage); Agni Purana snāna-vidhi continuation beyond 72.4 for subsequent purification steps
FAQs
It gives a practical astra-prayoga step: after attaining the astra (weapon-mantra) and arousing its ‘blazing’ potency through the body, the practitioner performs eye-closure, prāṇa-saṃyama (breath restraint), and water-immersion as a protective/purificatory act.
It blends multiple domains—mantra-śāstra (astra-siddhi), yogic technique (breath restraint), and ritual purification (water immersion)—showing how the Agni Purana compiles actionable procedures across spiritual technology, protection rites, and disciplined practice.
The sequence emphasizes self-control and purification: restraining the senses (eyes) and prāṇa before entering water symbolizes removing ritual impurity and stabilizing the energized mantra-force so it functions without harm and with dharmic restraint.