Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 76 — चण्डपूजाकथनम्
Narration of the Worship of Caṇḍa/Caṇḍeśa
टङ्काकरे ऽर्धचन्द्रे वा चतुर्वक्त्रं प्रपूजयेत् लिचण्डेश्वराय इति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः क्रूं फडिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः हूं चण्डशिरसे स्वाहेति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः हूं फट् चण्दत इति ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः टङ्कारेणार्धचन्द्रे इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः यथाशक्ति जपं कुर्यादङ्गानान्तु दशांशतः
ṭaṅkākare 'rdhacandre vā caturvaktraṃ prapūjayet licaṇḍeśvarāya iti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ krūṃ phaḍiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ hūṃ caṇḍaśirase svāheti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ hūṃ phaṭ caṇdata iti ga, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ ṭaṅkāreṇārdhacandre iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ yathāśakti japaṃ kuryādaṅgānāntu daśāṃśataḥ
On doit vénérer comme il se doit la divinité aux Quatre Visages, soit sous la forme du ṭaṅka (ciseau/hache), soit sous la forme du demi-lune. (Dans certaines recensions, les lectures du mantra sont :) « (hommage) à Caṇḍeśvara » ; ou « krūṃ phaḍ » ; ou « hūṃ—à Caṇḍaśiras—svāhā » ; ou « hūṃ phaṭ—(à) Caṇḍa… ». Ensuite, on accomplira le japa selon sa capacité ; et pour les mantras des “membres” (aṅga-mantra), le nombre sera le dixième du japa principal.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/mantra procedure, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective Śaiva-tantric worship using mantra-variants, nyāsa/aṅga-japa proportional counting, and icon-visualization (four-faced form marked by ṭaṅka/ardhacandra).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Caṇḍeśvara/Caṇḍaśiras Mantra-variants and Aṅga-japa Daśāṃśa Rule","lookup_keywords":["Caṇḍeśvara","krūṃ phaḍ","aṅga-mantra","daśāṃśa","ṭaṅka ardhacandra"],"quick_summary":"Worship the four-faced fierce attendant-deity with the recension-specific mantra, then perform japa as able; aṅga-mantras are counted as one-tenth of the main japa."}
Concept: Mantra-siddhi depends on correct procedure, visualization, and proportional ancillary practice (aṅga-japa).
Application: Maintain japa discipline: main mantra count with aṅga-mantras at 1/10; adapt total japa to capacity without breaking proportionality.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Protective worship, nyasa-style anga-japa, fierce deity invocation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva ritualist worships a four-faced fierce attendant-deity, visualized with a chisel/axe emblem or a half-moon sign, while reciting seed-mantras and preparing for aṅga-japa counting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, four-faced fierce Caṇḍeśvara/Caṇḍaśiras with symbolic ṭaṅka and ardhacandra motifs, priest performing nyāsa and japa, sacred lamps, stylized temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, four-faced attendant-deity seated near Śiva’s shrine, ornate jewelry, bold outlines, priest holding japamālā, mantra syllables subtly inscribed, rich gold halo and arch.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, refined linework, instructional composition showing priest, japamālā, and a small diagram-like depiction of ṭaṅka/ardhacandra symbols beside the four-faced deity, calm but potent ritual atmosphere.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly-temple interior, priest reciting ‘krūṃ phaḍ’ and ‘hūṃ phaṭ’, small marginal notes indicating mantra variants, four-faced fierce figure rendered with fine detail and restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ’rdhacandre = ardha-candre (अर्धचन्द्रे); ṭaṅkākare = ṭaṅka-ākāre; kuryādaṅgānāntu = kuryāt aṅgānām tu. Several mantra-padas are preserved as indeclinables; the verse includes noted variant readings (pāṭhabheda).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 76 (Pūjā-vidhi sections on nyāsa, mantra, upacāra, and completion/saṃhāra)
FAQs
It gives a mantra-prayoga: worship of a four-faced form associated with ṭaṅka/ardhacandra iconography, variant mantra readings (Caṇḍeśvara/Caṇḍaśiras with bījas hūṃ, krūṃ and phaṭ), and the counting rule that aṅga-mantra japa should be one-tenth of the main japa.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—text-critical mantra variants, bīja usage, and standardized japa proportions—showing the Agni Purana as a handbook of applied ritual science (puja-vidhi and mantra-tantra).
The verse frames disciplined japa and aṅga-mantra completion as a correctness principle in worship: properly proportioned repetition supports protection (rakṣā), purification, and the intended siddhi of the rite when performed within one’s capacity.