Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं
Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland
अत्यर्थं भावयेद्देवं ज्ञानखद्गकरो गुरुः नैरृतीं दिशमासाद्य प्रक्षिपेदुदगाननः
atyarthaṃ bhāvayeddevaṃ jñānakhadgakaro guruḥ nairṛtīṃ diśamāsādya prakṣipedudagānanaḥ
Tourné vers le nord, le maître—dont la main porte l’épée de la connaissance—doit contempler ardemment la Divinité; puis, s’étant avancé vers la direction Nairṛtī (sud‑ouest), il doit y projeter/jeter l’offrande rituelle prescrite.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage, in the Agni Purana’s ritual-technical discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Directional (dik) placement and ritual projection (prakshepa) during nyasa/puja, with the officiant oriented correctly and maintaining focused dhyana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhyana with North-facing Guru and Nairriti Prakshepa","lookup_keywords":["dhyana","udag-anana","nairriti","prakshepa","jnana-khadga"],"quick_summary":"The officiant faces north for intense deity-contemplation, then approaches the south-west (Nairriti) quarter to cast the prescribed ritual projection/offering there."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Weapon Type: Sword (as metaphor)
Concept: Ekagrata (intense contemplation) precedes external ritual action; knowledge is the true 'weapon' guiding rite.
Application: Train the officiant to stabilize attention (bhavana) before performing any directional act, reducing ritual error and mental distraction.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-dhyana, Dik-nirdesha, Nyasa/Prakshepa procedures)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Sacred space orientation (dik) within mandala/mandapa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru-priest faces north in meditation, holding a symbolic sword of knowledge; then he steps to the south-west corner of a ritual square and casts a small offering/projection there.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vivid colors, a calm acharya facing north in dhyana with a glowing jnana-khadga, mandala floor markings, south-west corner emphasized, traditional ornaments, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights on the jnana-khadga and ritual mandala borders, priest in silk, north-facing posture, south-west corner with small offering cast, rich temple interior","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional clarity: labeled directions on a square mandala, priest first seated north-facing then standing at south-west performing prakshepa, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion with compass-like directions, priest with symbolic sword, sequential action implied, fine textiles, architectural perspective, subdued palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भावयेद्देवं = भावयेत् + देवम्; दिशमासाद्य = दिशम् + आसाद्य; प्रक्षिपेदुदगाननः = प्रक्षिपेत् + उदगाननः; उदगाननः = उदग् + आननः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (Puja-vidhi: dik-nirdesha, nyasa/prakshepa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-based ritual step: the guru visualizes the deity intensely, maintains a north-facing posture, and performs a prescribed prakṣepa (casting/projection) toward the south‑western (Nairṛti) quarter as part of directional ritual procedure.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise operational ritual details—orientation (north-facing), quarter-specific action (Nairṛti), and the guru’s function—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied liturgy, dik-nirdesha, and mantra/karma procedure.
The instruction links inner contemplation (bhāvana/dhyāna) with an outward, direction-specific act, implying purification and harmonization of space by ritually addressing the Nairṛti quarter—traditionally associated with obstacles—under the guidance of knowledge (jñāna) embodied by the guru.