Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 58
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
ततो वह्निं समभ्यर्च्य पडन्तास्त्रेण संवरान् संहारमुद्रयाहृत्य क्षमस्वेत्यभिधाय च
tato vahniṃ samabhyarcya paḍantāstreṇa saṃvarān saṃhāramudrayāhṛtya kṣamasvetyabhidhāya ca
Ensuite, après avoir honoré Agni selon le rite, on doit clore (sécuriser) l’enceinte au moyen du Paḍantāstra ; puis, en accomplissant la Saṃhāra-mudrā (geste de retrait et de fermeture), on dira aussi : « Pardonne », et l’on conclura.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual closure (saṃvara/avaraṇa) using a protective astramantra (Paḍantāstra), followed by saṃhāra-mudrā and kṣamā-prārthanā to seal the rite and rectify omissions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ritual sealing: Paḍantāstra-saṃvara, Saṃhāra-mudrā, and kṣamā","lookup_keywords":["Paḍantāstra","saṃvara","saṃhāra-mudrā","kṣamā","agnipūjā"],"quick_summary":"After worshipping Agni, secure the ritual perimeter with the astramantra, perform the withdrawal/closure mudrā, and explicitly ask forgiveness—standard tantric completion protocol."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric weapon)
Concept: Ritual completeness (pūrṇatā) requires protection, withdrawal, and repentance: seal energies, retract projections, and acknowledge human error.
Application: Always end pūjā/homa with (1) protective enclosure, (2) closure mudrā, (3) kṣamā-yācñā, especially in mantra-tantra rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Agni-upasana and ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fire-altar with Agni worship completed; practitioner traces a protective circle around the space (saṃvara) while invoking an astramantra; hands form saṃhāra-mudrā; final gesture of apology/forgiveness toward the fire/deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritualist before blazing Agni; golden protective ring encircling the altar; stylized hand-mudrā prominently shown; ‘kṣamā’ conveyed by bowed head; sacred lamps and minimal background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Agni as radiant presence with gold flames; thick gold circular enclosure motif around kunda; hands in saṃhāra-mudrā; ornate borders, devotional closure scene.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional focus on hand gesture (saṃhāra-mudrā) and perimeter marking; clear depiction of altar and boundary line; calm concluding posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard ritual; practitioner drawing a circle with a ritual implement; subtle luminous boundary; expressive bowed apology; fine textile and vessel details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पडन्तास्त्रेण = पडन्त-अस्त्रेण; संहारमुद्रयाहृत्य = संहार-मुद्रया आहृत्य; क्षमस्वेत्यभिधाय = क्षमस्व इति अभिधाय.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 75 (pūjā conclusion and protective rites)
FAQs
It teaches the formal closing sequence of Agni-worship: worshipping the fire, establishing a protective enclosure using an astra-mantra (Paḍantāstra), sealing/withdrawing the rite through the Saṃhāra-mudrā, and verbally seeking pardon (kṣamasva) to complete the ritual correctly.
It blends multiple technical domains in a single instruction—puja-vidhi (worship protocol), mantra-astra concepts (protective ritual weaponry), and mudrā practice (gesture-based ritual technology)—showing how the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual alongside its theological narrative.
Seeking forgiveness (kṣamasva) and performing saṃhāra (ritual withdrawal) is meant to neutralize mistakes or omissions in worship, restore ritual purity, and ensure the act yields merit without accruing fault from procedural lapses.