Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
औं हां सद्योजातवामदेवाभ्यां स्वाहा ॐ हां वामदेवाघोराभ्यां स्वाहा ॐ हां अघोरतत्पुरुषाभ्यां स्वाहा ॐ हां तत्पुरुषेशानाभ्यां स्वाहा इतिवक्त्रानुसन्धानं मन्त्रैर् एभिः क्रमाच्चरेत् अग्रितो गतया वायुं निरृतादिशिवान्तया
auṃ hāṃ sadyojātavāmadevābhyāṃ svāhā oṃ hāṃ vāmadevāghorābhyāṃ svāhā oṃ hāṃ aghoratatpuruṣābhyāṃ svāhā oṃ hāṃ tatpuruṣeśānābhyāṃ svāhā itivaktrānusandhānaṃ mantrair ebhiḥ kramāccaret agrito gatayā vāyuṃ nirṛtādiśivāntayā
« Auṁ hāṃ—svāhā à Sadyojāta et Vāmadeva ; Oṃ hāṃ—svāhā à Vāmadeva et Aghora ; Oṃ hāṃ—svāhā à Aghora et Tatpuruṣa ; Oṃ hāṃ—svāhā à Tatpuruṣa et Īśāna. » Ainsi, par ces mantras, on doit accomplir successivement la ‘connexion’ des Visages (de Śiva) (vaktrānusandhāna), dans l’ordre : en commençant par l’Est (Agni) et en poursuivant vers la direction du Vent ; selon la marche des directions, en partant du quartier de Nirṛti et en s’achevant en Śiva (Īśāna).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana narrator) instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional/sequence-based Pañcavaktra linking (vaktrānusandhāna) using paired-face oblation mantras, mapping faces across quarters in Śaiva ritual.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaktrānusandhāna (paired Pañcabrahma mantras with dik-krama)","lookup_keywords":["vaktrānusandhāna","Pañcavaktra-nyāsa","dik-krama","Sadyōjāta-Vāmadeva","Aghora-Tatpuruṣa"],"quick_summary":"Perform sequential ‘connection’ of Śiva’s faces by offering with paired mantras (Sadyōjāta–Vāmadeva, Vāmadeva–Aghora, Aghora–Tatpuruṣa, Tatpuruṣa–Īśāna), proceeding in a prescribed directional order."}
Concept: Krama (sequence) and dik (direction) discipline the mind and ‘stitch’ divine aspects into a coherent inner/outer mandala.
Application: Use the prescribed order to avoid mantra-vyatyaya (mis-sequencing) and to stabilize nyāsa/homa correspondences.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-Mantra (Pañcavaktra-nyāsa and directional mantra-application in Śaiva ritual)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram-like scene: the homa fire at center, directions marked, and paired-face mantras shown as links between adjacent faces; the priest gestures in sequence around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Agni, compass-like directional lotus around it, five Śiva mukha symbols placed by quarters, painted linking bands between adjacent faces, priest performing clockwise/ritual sequence, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold, mandala around the fire with embossed directional markers, paired mukha medallions connected by gold filigree lines, priest in devotional posture, rich temple setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional painting, clear directional labels (East/Agni, Vāyu, Nirṛti, Īśāna), arrows showing sequence, paired mantra text panels, minimal but elegant palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard view with a central fire altar, attendants at four sides, delicate cartouches showing paired mantras, subtle geometric compass rose, refined detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इतिवक्त्रानुसन्धानम् = इति वक्त्र-अनुसन्धानम्; क्रमाच्चरेत् = क्रमात् चरेत्; निरृतादिशिवान्तया = निरृत-आदि-शिव-अन्तया.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75.40 (single-face oblations); Agni Purana 75.42 (full unification mantra); Agni Purana 75.43 (īśāna worship and astra oblations)
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva ritual sequence for pañcavaktra-anusandhāna—linking Śiva’s five faces through paired oblation-mantras (svāhā) and applying them in a prescribed directional order.
Beyond mythology, it preserves operational liturgy: seed-syllables, oblation formulas, deity-aspect mapping (pañcavaktra), and direction-based ritual sequencing—practical instructions typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging ritual and technical scope.
By correctly aligning mantra, deity-aspect, and direction, the practitioner ritually integrates the fivefold Śiva principle, supporting purification, protection, and siddhi-oriented steadiness in worship through disciplined, rule-based performance.