Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
शिवेन दशधा सौम्यं जपेद्भागत्रयं क्रमात् सर्वदिक्षु क्षिपेत् पूर्वं हूं फडन्तशरात्मना
śivena daśadhā saumyaṃ japedbhāgatrayaṃ kramāt sarvadikṣu kṣipet pūrvaṃ hūṃ phaḍantaśarātmanā
L’ayant précédée ou investie par le Śiva-mantra, qu’on récite dix fois la formule douce (Saumya), puis qu’on applique ses trois parties dans l’ordre requis. D’abord, qu’on la projette dans toutes les directions comme un mantra en forme de flèche se terminant par « hūṃ » et « phaṭ ».
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-empowerment and projection: prefix with Śiva, recite Saumya ten times, apply three parts sequentially, then project to all directions as an arrow-mantra ending in hūṃ and phaṭ for protection and obstacle-clearing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daśāvara-japa of Saumya with Śiva-prefix and Dik-kṣepa (Hūṃ Phaṭ)","lookup_keywords":["śiva-mantra","saumya","daśadha-japa","hūṃ phaṭ","dik-kṣepa"],"quick_summary":"Empower the Saumya formula with Śiva, repeat it tenfold, apply its three segments in order, and cast it to all directions as an arrow-form mantra ending with hūṃ and phaṭ to establish protection."}
Alamkara Type: Utpreksha
Weapon Type: Arrow (mantra-śara)
Concept: Mantra requires saṃskāra (prefix/empowerment), saṅkhyā (count), krama (sequence), and kṣepa (projection) to become effective.
Application: Before worship or travel, perform counted japa and directional casting with hūṃ-phaṭ to establish a protective perimeter and mental steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Tantric protective rites and mantra-projection)
Primary Rasa: Veera
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka stands centered, reciting with a Śiva-prefixed formula; three mantra segments appear as bands; then luminous arrow-mantras shoot outward to the eight directions, each tipped with ‘hūṃ’ and ‘phaṭ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central figure with trident/Śiva aura behind, arrows of light radiating to directions, stylized syllables hūṃ and phaṭ at arrowheads, bold lines and sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed directional arrows, central devotee with subtle Śiva symbolism, ornate frame, mantra syllables rendered as decorative gold calligraphy.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional scene with compass rose, three-part mantra bands labeled, ten-count japa indicated by beads, arrows cast to all directions with hūṃ-phaṭ at tips; clean didactic layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined figure in courtyard, delicate rays/arrows to cardinal and intercardinal points, calligraphic hūṃ/phaṭ in cartouches, balanced composition and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"apotropaic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: japedbhāgatrayaṃ → japet bhāga-trayam; sarvadikṣu → sarva-dikṣu; phaḍantaśarātmanā → phaḍ-anta-śara-ātmanā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (astra usage; mudrā/nyāsa; directional rites)
FAQs
It teaches a protective mantra-practice: recite an appeasing (saumya) mantra ten times, apply its three parts sequentially, and then “cast” it to all directions as an arrow-like projection, sealed with the bīja “hūṃ” and the exclamation “phaṭ.”
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual technology—counts of japa, sequencing of mantra-parts, and directional deployment (dik-bandhana)—showing the text’s breadth across liturgy, mantra-kalpa, and practical protective rites.
The act of directional casting with “hūṃ/phaṭ” functions as a ritual safeguard—purifying and sealing the practitioner’s space, warding obstacles, and stabilizing the rite so it can proceed without harmful interference.