Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
विकिरान् शुद्धलाजांस्तान् सधूपानस्त्रमन्त्रितान् कृतनित्यक्रियाद्वय इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भस्मदूर्वाक्षतानिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः शस्त्राम्बुप्रोक्षितानेतान् कवचेनावगुण्ठितान्
vikirān śuddhalājāṃstān sadhūpānastramantritān kṛtanityakriyādvaya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ bhasmadūrvākṣatāniti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ śastrāmbuprokṣitānetān kavacenāvaguṇṭhitān
Après avoir dispersé ces grains grillés purs (lājā) avec l’encens, et les avoir consacrés par le mantra de l’arme (astra-mantra)—après l’accomplissement des deux rites quotidiens obligatoires (selon une leçon; une autre leçon marquée porte : «cendre, herbe dūrvā et riz intact»)—qu’on les asperge d’eau sanctifiée par l’astra-mantra, puis qu’on les enveloppe protectivement par le mantra de cuirasse (kavaca).
Lord Agni (teaching) to sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ritual protection: consecrating offering-substances (lajā/akṣata, dhūpa, etc.) with astramantra, sprinkling sanctified water, and sealing the rite with kavaca for warding obstacles and impurity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-mantrita dravya-prokṣaṇa and kavaca-āvaguṇṭhana","lookup_keywords":["astramantra","kavaca","prokṣaṇa","lajā","rakṣā-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate ritual materials with the weapon-mantra, sprinkle them with astra-sanitized water, and finally envelop them with a kavaca for protective sealing of the rite."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantra-weapon, ritualized ‘weapon’ for protection)
Concept: Mantra-śakti as protective enclosure (āvaguṇṭhana) and purifier (prokṣaṇa).
Application: Use layered protection in worship: empower substances, purify by sprinkling, then seal with kavaca to prevent ritual ‘leakage’ and obstacles.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual procedure for protection/mantra-armed rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist scatters parched grains and incense, sprinkles them with sanctified water, and draws an invisible protective sheath (kavaca) around the offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest in white dhoti beside a small altar, laja grains and incense smoke, water-sprinkling with darbha, subtle aura-ring indicating kavaca, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed ritual implements, ornate kalasha and incense holder, priest sprinkling consecrated water over grains, stylized protective mandala border as kavaca, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual scene with labeled items (lajā, dhūpa, prokṣaṇa-jala), delicate linework, soft shading, emphasis on hand-gestures and sequence","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed puja chamber, incense curls, small bowls of grains, priest sprinkling water, thin gold outline around offerings to show kavaca, fine textiles and architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śuddhalājāṃs+tān → śuddhalājāṃstān; sadhūpān+astra-mantritān → sadhūpānastramantritān; śastra-ambu-prokṣitān+etān → śastrāmbuprokṣitānetān; kavacena+ava-guṇṭhitān → kavacenāvaguṇṭhitān. Variant notes in the source (kha/ṅa) are editorial and not parsed as padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (rakṣā-kalpa / pūjā-vidhi context)
FAQs
It teaches a protective ritual sequence: prepare pure offerings (lājā/alternatively ash–dūrvā–akṣata), empower them with the astra-mantra, sprinkle with mantra-sanctified water (prokṣaṇa), and seal the rite with a kavaca (protective armor-mantra).
It preserves applied ritual technology—specific materials, variant readings, and operational steps (mantrita, prokṣita, kavaca)—showing the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of mantra-vidhi and protective rites alongside its many other disciplines.
The act of mantra-empowering and ritually sealing materials is framed as purification and protection: it wards off obstacles and impurities, aligning the practitioner’s actions with daily dharma (nitya-kriyā) and establishing a safeguarded ritual space.