Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये दमनकारोहणविधिर्नाम अशीतितमो ऽध्यायः अथैकाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः समयदीक्षाविधानं ईश्वर उवाच वाक्ष्यामि भोगमोक्षार्थं दीक्षां पापक्षयङ्करीं मलमायादिपाशानां विश्लेषः क्रियते यया
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye damanakārohaṇavidhirnāma aśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ athaikāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ samayadīkṣāvidhānaṃ īśvara uvāca vākṣyāmi bhogamokṣārthaṃ dīkṣāṃ pāpakṣayaṅkarīṃ malamāyādipāśānāṃ viśleṣaḥ kriyate yayā
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa, le Mahāpurāṇa primordial, s’achève le quatre‑vingtième chapitre intitulé « Le rite de l’ascension du (plant) damanaka ». Commence maintenant le quatre‑vingt‑unième chapitre : « La procédure de l’initiation Samaya ». Le Seigneur dit : « J’exposerai l’initiation (dīkṣā) visant à la fois la jouissance mondaine et la délivrance, qui détruit les péchés ; par elle, les liens faits d’impureté (mala), de māyā et des autres entraves sont desserrés et tranchés. »
Īśvara (the Lord, as the instructing deity in the dīkṣā context)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Introduce samaya-dīkṣā as a structured initiation for bhoga and mokṣa, aimed at sin-destruction and cutting the bonds of mala, māyā, etc.; used to frame the initiation chapter and its goals.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Samaya-dīkṣā: bhoga–mokṣa-arthā, pāpakṣaya-karī, mala–māyā-pāśa-viccheda-hetu","lookup_keywords":["samaya dīkṣā","bhoga mokṣa","pāpakṣaya","mala māyā pāśa","śaiva initiation"],"quick_summary":"Samaya initiation is defined as an initiatory rite that supports both worldly well-being and liberation by destroying sins and loosening/severing the fetters of impurity and māyā."}
Concept: Bondage and release: mala and māyā as fetters; dīkṣā as transformative rite that enables both qualified enjoyment (bhoga) and liberation (mokṣa).
Application: Approach initiation as ethical-ritual and contemplative discipline: purification, guru-relationship, and commitment (samaya) to sādhana aimed at reducing pāpa and loosening inner constraints.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-Diksha (Initiation and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chapter-opening scene: Īśvara teaching the doctrine of samaya initiation to sages/disciples, emphasizing bhoga and mokṣa and the cutting of bonds (pāśa) symbolically shown as loosened knots.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated Īśvara as teacher with matted hair and serene gaze, disciples in rows, symbolic ropes (pāśa) dissolving into light, bold flat colors, temple mural framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Īśvara on a throne-like seat with gold-leaf aura, disciples holding palm-leaf manuscripts, symbolic fetters breaking, ornate arch and lotuses, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional teaching scene with labeled concepts (mala, māyā, pāśa) as small icon-symbols near the teacher, fine linework, calm palette, emphasis on pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: philosophical discourse in a pavilion, teacher-figure (Īśvara) addressing ascetics, delicate depiction of ropes/knots unraveling into mist, refined textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; damanakārohaṇavidhirnāma = दमनकारोहणविधिः + नाम; aśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = अशीतितमः + अध्यायः; athaikāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = अथ + एकाशीतितमः + अध्यायः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (samaya-dīkṣā-vidhāna continuation); Agni Purana 80 (preceding pūjā-vidhi closure)
FAQs
It introduces the Samaya-dīkṣā (a formal initiation) and states its technical function: ritual initiation that purifies sin and severs the practitioner’s binding “pāśas” such as mala and māyā.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa treating not only myth and devotion but also systematic ritual technology—initiation theory, purification, and liberation-aimed practice—alongside its many other knowledge domains.
The verse frames dīkṣā as a karmic purifier (pāpa-kṣayaṅkarī) and as a liberating method that loosens deep metaphysical bonds (mala–māyā–pāśa), aligning practice with both worldly welfare and final release.