Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
अर्घ्योदकेन देवाय मुद्रयोद्भवसञ्ज्ञया हृद्वीजपूर्वमूलेन स्थिरचित्तो निवेदयेत्
arghyodakena devāya mudrayodbhavasañjñayā hṛdvījapūrvamūlena sthiracitto nivedayet
Avec l’eau d’arghya, on doit présenter l’offrande à la divinité, en employant la mudrā appelée « mudrā-udbhava », et en récitant le mantra racine précédé de la semence du cœur (hṛd-bīja), l’esprit demeurant stable.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purana instructional sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Arghya offering with specific mudrā (udbhava) and mantra sequencing (hṛd-bīja + mūla-mantra) while maintaining steadiness of mind—usable as a step in Śaiva pūjā/nyāsa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Arghya-offering with Udbhava-mudrā and Hṛd-bīja–Mūla-mantra sequence","lookup_keywords":["arghya","udbhava mudra","hrid-bija","mula-mantra","sthira-citta"],"quick_summary":"Offer arghya-water to the deity using Udbhava-mudrā, reciting the root-mantra preceded by the heart-seed; mental steadiness is treated as a required ritual component."}
Concept: Outer offering is inseparable from inner concentration; bīja and mūla-mantra sequencing encodes the ‘heart’ as the ritual center.
Application: During pūjā, synchronize gesture (mudrā), speech (mantra), and mind (sthira-citta) to avoid ritual distraction and strengthen mantra-siddhi.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Worship Procedures / Mantra–Mudra Nyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A steady-minded practitioner holds an arghya vessel, forming Udbhava-mudrā with the hands, offering water before the deity while silently/softly reciting hṛd-bīja followed by the mūla-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of hands in Udbhava-mudrā over an arghya bowl; deity in the background niche; warm earthy palette, bold contours, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: arghya vessel and deity richly ornamented with gold leaf; the mudrā emphasized with graceful hand positioning; luminous highlights on water and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional plate—(1) arghya bowl, (2) Udbhava-mudrā hand diagram, (3) mantra sequence caption (hṛd-bīja → mūla); delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate shrine interior with fine detailing; practitioner offering water with elegant hand gesture; subtle calligraphy band indicating mantra sequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्घ्योदकेन = अर्घ्य + उदकेन. मुद्रयोद्भवसञ्ज्ञया = मुद्रया + उद्भवसञ्ज्ञया. हृद्वीजपूर्वमूलेन = हृद् + बीज + पूर्व + मूलेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mudrā-lakṣaṇa and nyāsa sections (udbhava, hṛd-bīja usage); Agni Purana: arghya/ācamanīya/upacāra lists in pūjā-vidhi
FAQs
It prescribes a precise arghya-offering method: offer arghya-water to the deity while forming a specified mudrā (“udbhava”) and reciting the mūla-mantra preceded by the hṛd-bīja, maintaining mental steadiness.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual-technology—codifying not only devotion but also operational details of mantra order (hṛd-bīja + mūla) and mudrā application, typical of its wide-ranging manuals on worship and esoteric procedure.
The verse emphasizes disciplined, correct worship: steadiness of mind and correct mantra–mudrā sequencing are presented as key to making the offering effective, purifying, and properly directed to the deity.