Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 64

Chapter 78 — पवित्रारोहणकथनं

Pavitrārohaṇa: Installing the Sanctifying Thread/Garland

Devanagari script

अधिरोप्य पवित्राणि कलाभिर्वाथ मन्त्रयेत् षडङ्गं ब्रह्ममूलैर् वा हृद्धर्मास्त्रञ्च योजयेत्

Transliteration

adhiropya pavitrāṇi kalābhirvātha mantrayet ṣaḍaṅgaṃ brahmamūlair vā hṛddharmāstrañca yojayet

Translation

Après avoir posé ou superposé les pavitra, cordons/anneaux de consécration, il doit ensuite les vivifier par les kalā divines ; et il doit accomplir le ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa, la protection en six membres, soit au moyen des bīja-mantra racines de Brahmā (Brahma-mūla), et aussi appliquer le Hṛdaya-mantra (mantra du Cœur) conjointement au Dharma-astra, le mantra-arme de la protection juste.

Word by Word

• अधिरोप्य: having placed upon
• अधिरोप्य: पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √रुह् with अधि-, ‘having placed/raised upon’

• पवित्राणि: purifying threads/rings (pavitra-s)
• पवित्राणि: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन (pl)

• कलाभिः: with parts/kalā-s
• कलाभिः: करण (means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (pl)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पबोधक (disjunctive ‘or’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: क्रम (sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तर/प्रारम्भ (then/now)

• मन्त्रयेत्: should recite/empower with mantra
• मन्त्रयेत्: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg)

• षडङ्गम्: the sixfold (ṣaḍaṅga)
• षडङ्गम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound: ‘six-limbed’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg)

• ब्रह्म-मूलैः: with the brahma-mūla (root) [mantras]
• ब्रह्म-मूलैः: करण (means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; ‘Brahma-roots/ मूल-mantras’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (pl)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पबोधक

• हृत्-धर्म-अस्त्रम्: the hṛt-dharma-astra (heart/dharma weapon-mantra)
• हृत्-धर्म-अस्त्रम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् + धर्म + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• योजयेत्: should apply/join
• योजयेत्: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg)

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Consecrate pavitra (protective cords/rings) by superimposition and mantra-empowerment with kalās; perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa using Brahma-bīja/mūla mantras; apply hṛdaya-mantra and Dharma-astra for comprehensive protection.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pavitra-saṃskāra with Kalā-śakti and Ṣaḍaṅga Nyāsa (Brahma-mūla, Hṛdaya, Dharma-astra)","lookup_keywords":["pavitra","kalā","ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa","brahma-bīja","dharma-astra"],"quick_summary":"Empower protective cords with kalā-energies, then seal the body/space through six-limbed nyāsa and finalize with heart-mantra plus Dharma-astra as a righteous protective ‘weapon’."}

Dhanurveda Layer

Weapon Type: Astra (Dharma-astra as protective mantra-weapon)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protection is achieved by sanctifying supports (pavitra) and aligning body-speech-mind through structured nyāsa.

Application: Use pavitra + ṣaḍaṅga nyāsa as a standardized prelude to worship, travel, or initiation-like protective contexts.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa and protective rite procedures)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Consecrating cords/rings are placed on a ritual tray; the practitioner touches six body points in sequence (ṣaḍaṅga), then touches the heart and gestures outward as if casting a protective ‘dharma-astra’ shield.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with stylized hand-gestures touching six points, pavitra cords depicted prominently, luminous kalā rays entering the cords, bold outlines and sacred reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed pavitra cords and radiant kalā beams, ornate ritual tray, priest with halo, protective aura rendered in gold arcs, rich saturated palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: six-limb nyāsa sequence shown as small vignettes, labeled pavitra and hṛdaya/astrā gestures, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor ritual scene with detailed textiles and objects, subtle depiction of hand-to-limb touches, cords and manuscripts carefully rendered"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: kalābhirvātha → कलाभिः + वा + अथ; brahmamūlair → ब्रह्ममूलैः; hṛddharmāstrañca → हृत्-धर्म-अस्त्रम् + च (with sandhi: अस्त्रम्→अस्त्रं).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 78 (pavitra, nyāsa, rakṣā-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana mantra-nyāsa discussions (ṣaḍaṅga/hṛdaya/astrāṇi)

Characters & Entities

• Pavitra (ritual consecration cord/ring)
• Kalā (divine energy/portion)
• Ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa
• Brahma-mūla mantras
• Hṛdaya (Heart-mantra)
• Astra-mantra (Dharma-astra)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches a precise ritual sequence: install the pavitra (consecration cord/ring), empower it through kalā-invocation, then perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa using Brahma-root mantras, concluding with the Heart-mantra and a protective Dharma-astra (astra-mantra).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond mythic narration, it preserves operational ritual technology—nyāsa, mantra-empowerment, and astra-mantra protection—showing the Agni Purana’s compendium-like coverage of practical liturgy and mantra-shāstra procedures.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By consecrating the pavitra and sealing the rite with ṣaḍaṅga and Dharma-astra protection, the practitioner is ritually purified and safeguarded from obstacles, stabilizing the merit (puṇya) and efficacy of worship.