Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 66
Agnisthāpana-vidhi (Procedure for Establishing the Sacred Fire) and Protective Īśāna-kalpa Homa Sequences
नैरृते विष्णवे स्वाहा वायसादेर्वहिर्बलिः बलिद्वयगतान्मन्त्रान् संहारमुद्रयाअत्मनि
nairṛte viṣṇave svāhā vāyasādervahirbaliḥ balidvayagatānmantrān saṃhāramudrayāatmani
Dans le quartier du sud-ouest (nairṛta), on doit offrir l’oblation avec le mantra : « à Viṣṇu, svāhā », et déposer un bali extérieur destiné aux corbeaux et autres. Ensuite, les mantras employés dans les deux offrandes bali doivent être retirés en soi au moyen de la Saṃhāra-mudrā (geste de rétraction).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform bali in the nairṛta quarter with a specific mantra and then ritually retract (saṃhāra) the deployed mantras back into oneself to close the offering sequence and prevent mantra-leakage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nairṛta-bali to Viṣṇu and Saṃhāra-mudrā mantra-retraction","lookup_keywords":["nairrita bali","vishnave svaha","vayasa bali","samhara mudra","mantra-samharana"],"quick_summary":"Offer bali in the southwest with the mantra to Viṣṇu and an external bali for crows/outsiders; then withdraw the mantras used in both offerings into the self using Saṃhāra-mudrā to ritually seal the act."}
Concept: Mantra is treated as a deployed power that must be properly concluded; saṃhāra (retraction) restores inner sovereignty and prevents residual dispersion.
Application: After bali/offerings, perform saṃhāra-mudrā with inward recollection to ‘close’ the rite, especially when offerings are made to peripheral beings (crows, bhūtas).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Bali, Mantra, Mudra and Dikpala-related offerings)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest places a small bali offering in the southwest corner and another outside the main ritual boundary for crows; then he performs Saṃhāra-mudrā, drawing hands inward toward the heart as if retracting mantra-energy back into himself.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple courtyard with outer bali-sthāna; crows near the offering; priest in profile making inward saṃhāra gesture; strong outlines, ritual implements (bali bowl, lamp) clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: priest and bali vessels with gold highlights; southwest corner marked; crows rendered stylized; dramatic inward hand-gesture with embossed gold accents on ornaments and vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet elegant—two bali points (inner and outer) and a clear depiction of Saṃhāra-mudrā; soft colors, fine linework, instructional labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtyard scene with precise architecture; small group of crows at the periphery; priest performing inward gesture; delicate brushwork and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वायसादेर्वहिर्बलिः = वायसादेः + वहिः + बलिः. बलिद्वयगतान्मन्त्रान् = बलिद्वयगतान् + मन्त्रान्. संहारमुद्रयाअत्मनि = संहारमुद्रया + आत्मनि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Bali-vidhi sections (types of bali, placement, recipients); Agni Purana: Mudrā-vidhi/nyāsa sections (saṃhāra, sthāpana, saṃhāra-krama)
FAQs
It teaches a dik-bali step: offering “Viṣṇave svāhā” in the south-west, placing an external bali for crows and similar beings, and then ritually retracting the used mantras into the practitioner via Saṃhāra-mudrā.
It preserves precise procedural details—directional placement, recipient categories (crows etc.), mantra-use, and mudrā-based closure—showing the Purana functioning as a practical ritual handbook alongside its theological material.
The external bali pacifies and properly apportions offerings to direction-linked beings, while the Saṃhāra-mudrā withdraws and seals the mantra-energy, completing the rite in a purified, controlled manner.