Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
स्थण्डिले त्वर्चिते देवे मन्त्रसङ्घातमात्मनि नियोज्य विधिनोक्तेन विदध्याच्चण्डपूजनं
sthaṇḍile tvarcite deve mantrasaṅghātamātmani niyojya vidhinoktena vidadhyāccaṇḍapūjanaṃ
Lorsque la divinité a été honorée sur le sthāṇḍila (le sol rituel préparé), on doit, en soi-même, appliquer/implanter l’ensemble rassemblé des mantras ; puis, selon la procédure prescrite, accomplir le culte de Caṇḍa (la forme farouche de la Déesse).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Devatā-arcana on a prepared sthāṇḍila: after external worship, perform internal mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa (mantra-body implantation) and then execute Caṇḍa-pūjā per vidhi for protection/śakti-awakening.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sthāṇḍila-arcana with internal mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa and Caṇḍa-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["sthāṇḍila","arcana","mantra-saṅghāta","nyāsa","Caṇḍa-pūjā"],"quick_summary":"After worship on the ritual ground, consolidate the ‘cluster/body of mantras’ within oneself (internal nyāsa), then perform Caṇḍa worship exactly as prescribed for effective protective/fierce rite."}
Concept: External worship is completed by internalization: mantra becomes ‘ātman’ through nyāsa, enabling effective devatā-prayoga (especially ugra forms).
Application: Before fierce/protective worship, stabilize mind-body as mantra-śarīra to maintain focus, safety, and ritual efficacy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Devatā-arcana and Mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual ground (sthāṇḍila/maṇḍala) is prepared; the deity is worshipped there, then the practitioner performs internal nyāsa (touching heart/head etc.) to implant a mantra-cluster, preparing for Caṇḍa worship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, geometric sthāṇḍila with lotus/yantra lines, priest seated in yogic posture doing nyāsa touches, oil lamps, bold flat colors, fierce Devī/Caṇḍa aura hinted in background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate maṇḍala on floor with gold accents, priest performing nyāsa, small fierce deity vignette (Caṇḍa) with gold halo, rich textiles and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: left shows sthāṇḍila worship, right shows internal nyāsa gestures, captions for ‘mantra-saṅghāta’, calm but focused palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with patterned floor maṇḍala, priest touching chest/head in nyāsa, attendants holding pūjā items, fine architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वर्चिते = तु + अर्चिते; मन्त्रसङ्घातमात्मनि = मन्त्र-सङ्घातम् + आत्मनि; विधिनोक्तेन = विधि-नोक्तेन; विदध्याच्चण्डपूजनं = विदध्यात् + चण्ड-पूजनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 76 (sequence: sthāṇḍila-arcana → mantra-saṅghāta-nyāsa → Caṇḍa invocation/mantras in 76.6–76.8)
FAQs
It teaches a key arcana technique: after worship on the ritual ground, the practitioner performs an inner application/installation of the mantra-set (mantra-saṅghāta) in oneself (a nyāsa-like step) and then completes Caṇḍa/Caṇḍī worship according to the stated procedure.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical manual style—preserving step-by-step liturgical technology (altar/ground preparation, mantra aggregation, inner ritualization, and deity-specific worship), alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and arts.
By aligning outer worship (arcana) with inner mantra-installation (ātmani niyojana), the rite is made more integrated and efficacious, aiming at purification, protection, and the successful attainment of the worship’s intended result (siddhi/phala) through correct observance (vidhi).