Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
भूर्भुवः स्वः सुरेशाय शिखायै नैरृते यजेत् हुं कवचाय वायव्ये हां नेत्रायेति मध्यतः
bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ sureśāya śikhāyai nairṛte yajet huṃ kavacāya vāyavye hāṃ netrāyeti madhyataḥ
On doit adorer/assigner «bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ» au Seigneur des dieux comme Śikhā (touffe du sommet) au sud-ouest (Nairṛta) ; «huṁ» comme Kavaca (armure protectrice) au nord-ouest (Vāyavya) ; et «hāṁ» comme Netra (mantra de l’œil) au centre.
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kavaca–Netra–Śikhā nyāsa with directional placement to create a protective energetic ‘armor’ around the practitioner and the maṇḍala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śikhā–Kavaca–Netra Nyāsa with Bhūr-Bhuvaḥ-Svaḥ, Huṃ, Hāṃ","lookup_keywords":["śikhā-nyāsa","kavaca-nyāsa","netra-nyāsa","bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ","huṃ hāṃ"],"quick_summary":"Assign the śikhā mantra in the south-west, kavaca in the north-west, and netra in the center to seal and protect the rite through standard tantric limb-nyāsa."}
Concept: Dik-bandhana and aṅga-nyāsa: protection arises from ordered placement of mantra-power into body-points and directions.
Application: Before japa, homa, or arcana, perform these placements to reduce ritual obstacles (vighna) and maintain concentration.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and protective rites (Kavaca–Netra–Śikhā nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A maṇḍala space marked with directions; the practitioner touches crown-tuft (śikhā), chest/torso (kavaca), and eyes (netra), with the three vyāhṛtis and bījas indicated in their respective quarters.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, diagrammatic yet ornate: compass-like maṇḍala, SW and NW highlighted, priest performing śikhā touch, then kavaca gesture across torso, then netra touch at center; mantra syllables painted as decorative glyphs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold accents: central figure in ritual posture, directional lotuses around, SW/NW panels labeled, embossed protective motifs (armor, eye symbol, topknot) corresponding to kavaca/netra/śikhā.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: clear directional grid, step 1 śikhā in nairṛta with 'bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ', step 2 kavaca in vāyavya with 'huṃ', step 3 netra in center with 'hāṃ'.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: indoor shrine with a drawn floor-maṇḍala, the officiant’s hand touching śikhā, then sweeping across chest, then near eyes; fine marginal notes showing SW/NW/center."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नेत्रायेति = नेत्राय + इति.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 73 (ṣaḍaṅga/limb-nyāsa sequences; protective rites)
FAQs
It teaches dik-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa mapping: assigning specific mantras (Vyāhṛtis, huṁ, hāṁ) to ritual ‘limbs’ (śikhā, kavaca, netra) and fixing them in particular directions and the centre for worship and protection.
Beyond mythic narration, it functions like a practical ritual handbook—preserving technical liturgical details (directional placements, bīja usage, protective limb-mantras) that belong to temple/household pūjā systems and later tantricized procedural traditions.
By installing protective and illuminating mantras (kavaca and netra) and sealing the śikhā with sacred utterances, the practitioner is ritually purified, safeguarded from obstacles, and made fit (adhikārin) for successful worship and its merit (puṇya).