Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
ॐ चण्डेशानाय नमो मध्यतश् चण्डमूर्तये ॐ धूलिचण्डेश्वराय हूं फट् स्वाहा तमाह्णयेत्
oṃ caṇḍeśānāya namo madhyataś caṇḍamūrtaye oṃ dhūlicaṇḍeśvarāya hūṃ phaṭ svāhā tamāhṇayet
«Om—hommage à Caṇḍeśāna ; (qu’on le place/le récite) au centre pour Caṇḍamūrti. Om—à Dhūli-Caṇḍeśvara : hūṃ, phaṭ, svāhā.» Ainsi doit-on l’invoquer.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Invocation (āhvāna) mantra for Caṇḍeśāna/Caṇḍamūrti/Dhūli-Caṇḍeśvara with bīja/astrāṅga (hūṃ, phaṭ) and svāhā for sealing the call in protective worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Āhvāna-mantra for Caṇḍeśāna / Caṇḍamūrti / Dhūli-Caṇḍeśvara","lookup_keywords":["Caṇḍeśāna","Dhūli-Caṇḍeśvara","hūṃ","phaṭ","svāhā"],"quick_summary":"Recite the specified oṃ-namo formulas with hūṃ-phaṭ and svāhā to invoke the fierce protective presence of Caṇḍa in the ritual space (notably ‘middle placement’ for Caṇḍamūrti)."}
Concept: Mantra is performative speech: naming + bīja + astric syllables + svāhā effects invocation and stabilization of a deity-force in space.
Application: Use precise mantra segmentation (names/placements/endings) to avoid ritual ambiguity and to anchor the invoked force in the intended locus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-kalpa / Tantric-protective rites)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner invokes Caṇḍa with a tri-part mantra: Caṇḍeśāna salutation, central placement for Caṇḍamūrti, and Dhūli-Caṇḍeśvara with hūṃ phaṭ svāhā; the maṇḍala’s center glows as the invoked presence descends.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central maṇḍala glowing, priest chanting with raised hand, stylized syllables ‘hūṃ phaṭ svāhā’ as flame-like motifs, fierce guardian presence emerging in flat bold colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden aura at maṇḍala middle, priest with japamālā, embossed gold for mantra syllables, small fierce deity form appearing from incense smoke.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic maṇḍala with ‘madhya’ highlighted, priest chanting, clear depiction of mantra segments, restrained palette and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor shrine with patterned carpet-maṇḍala, priest reciting, calligraphic mantra ribbon floating toward the center, attendants with lamps and incense."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चण्डेशानाय = चण्ड-ईशानाय; तमाह्णयेत् = तम् + आह्णयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 76.7 (nyāsa/kavaca follows invocation); Agni Purāṇa 76.8 (dhyāna and Caṇḍāstra mantra)
FAQs
It gives a specific Caṇḍeśvara-invocation formula, including where to place/recite the mantra (“in the middle”) and the protective bīja-syllables hūṃ and phaṭ with svāhā for ritual efficacy.
Beyond myth, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantra construction, placement, and liturgical particles—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide coverage of practical temple and tantric procedures.
Invoking Caṇḍeśvara in a fierce/protective form is aimed at removing hindrances and establishing ritual protection; the use of hūṃ/phaṭ signals forceful purification and obstacle-cutting within worship.