Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Kapilādipūjāvidhāna — Procedure for Worship Beginning with Kapilā
मध्याह्ने भोजनागारे सुलिप्ते पाकमानयेत् ततो मृत्युञ्जयेनैव वौषडन्तेन सप्तधा
madhyāhne bhojanāgāre sulipte pākamānayet tato mṛtyuñjayenaiva vauṣaḍantena saptadhā
À midi, dans un lieu de repas bien enduit et purifié, on doit apporter la nourriture cuite ; puis, en n’employant que le mantra Mṛtyuñjaya, se terminant par l’exclamation « vauṣaṭ », on doit l’accomplir sept fois.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective sanctification of food/space at midday by sevenfold recitation/offering with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra ending in 'vauṣaṭ', integrating purity of dining with apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛtyuñjaya-vauṣaṭ saptadhā over naivedya/anna","lookup_keywords":["mṛtyuñjaya","vauṣaṭ","saptadhā","bhojanāgāra","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"In a purified dining area at midday, bring cooked food and perform sevenfold Mṛtyuñjaya recitation/oblation ending with 'vauṣaṭ' to consecrate and protect the meal."}
Concept: Anna as sacred; mantra as a means of saṃskāra (consecration) and rakṣā; number-discipline (saptadhā) for steadiness of mind.
Application: Before eating, ensure the place is clean, pause for seven intentional recitations with offering-intent, then proceed to serve.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Ritual procedure and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Household
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clean, freshly smeared dining area; cooked food is brought in; the practitioner performs sevenfold Mṛtyuñjaya recitation with a ritual gesture of offering, marked by 'vauṣaṭ'.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic sacred space with freshly plastered floor, food vessels, practitioner seated facing a small fire/altar-like setup, seven symbolic flower/mark repetitions around, austere devotional mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gleaming vessels and gold accents, practitioner holding a spoon/offerings, subtle 'seven' motif via seven lamps, rich warm palette, sanctified dining hall","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic clarity: dining space, food pot, practitioner counting seven recitations on fingers/mālā, clean lines, minimal background, emphasis on procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed kitchen-to-dining transition, attendants carrying dishes, practitioner performing mantra gesture, fine textures on utensils and floor, intimate realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mṛtyuñjayenaiva → mṛtyuñjayena + eva; bhojanāgāre → bhojana + āgāre.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 77.9 (sprinkling and offering first portion to Śiva as continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise prayoga: at midday, in a ritually purified dining area, the prepared food is presented and the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra is applied seven times with a “vauṣaṭ” ending—indicating an offering-style recitation for protection.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical manuals: here it records a concrete domestic-ritual protocol (place purification, timing, mantra-ending formula, and repetition count), typical of its wide-ranging ritual and technical instructions.
By linking food (daily sustenance) with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra and a formal offering-call, the act sacralizes eating, seeks protection from untimely death and harm, and is framed as a purificatory, merit-bearing observance.