Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
ज्ञानखड्गकरः स्थित्वा नैरृत्याभिमुखो नरः सार्घ्याम्बुपञ्चगव्याभ्यां प्रोक्षयेद्यागमण्डपं
jñānakhaḍgakaraḥ sthitvā nairṛtyābhimukho naraḥ sārghyāmbupañcagavyābhyāṃ prokṣayedyāgamaṇḍapaṃ
Se tenant debout, l’« épée de la connaissance » à la main, et faisant face au sud-ouest (nairṛti), l’officiant doit asperger (consacrer) le pavillon sacrificiel avec l’eau d’arghya et avec le pañcagavya.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual purification of the yajña-maṇḍapa by directional facing, symbolic jñāna-khaḍga, and prokṣaṇa using arghya-water and pañcagavya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yajña-maṇḍapa Prokṣaṇa with Arghya and Pañcagavya (Facing Nairṛti)","lookup_keywords":["prokṣaṇa","pañcagavya","arghya","nairṛti","jñāna-khaḍga"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the sacrificial pavilion by sprinkling arghya-water and pañcagavya while facing the south-west, holding the ‘sword of knowledge’ as a protective-purificatory symbol."}
Concept: Śuddhi as prerequisite for yajña: outer space is purified while inner ignorance is ‘cut’ by jñāna (jñāna-khaḍga).
Application: Before homa, perform systematic prokṣaṇa of the maṇḍapa; maintain the inner attitude that knowledge is the true purifier and protector against inauspiciousness (nairṛti-direction symbolism).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yajña-śuddhi and Maṇḍapa-saṃskāra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest in a yajña pavilion faces the south-west, holding a symbolic sword, sprinkling consecrated water and pañcagavya around the maṇḍapa boundary.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with stylized sword and water vessel, sprinkling around a square maṇḍapa, directional marker for nairṛti, bold outlines, ritual implements clearly shown.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly decorated maṇḍapa with gold accents, priest holding gleaming sword, arghya vessel and sprinkling gesture, sacred geometry on floor, warm lamp-lit tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: clear depiction of prokṣaṇa arc, labeled vessels (arghya, pañcagavya), neat pavilion lines, soft shading and precise detail.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion architecture, officiant sprinkling liquid with a spoon/brush, attendants holding vessels, subtle directional cues, intricate textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञानखड्गकरः = ज्ञान + खड्ग + करः; नैरृत्याभिमुखः = नैरृत्य + अभिमुखः; सार्घ्याम्बुपञ्चगव्याभ्यां = स + अर्घ्य + अम्बु + पञ्चगव्याभ्याम्; प्रोक्षयेद्यागमण्डपं = प्रोक्षयेत् + यागमण्डपम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (yajña-śuddhi, maṇḍapa-saṃskāra)
FAQs
It prescribes maṇḍapa-śuddhi (ritual purification) by prokṣaṇa—sprinkling the yāga-maṇḍapa with arghya-water and pañcagavya while observing a specific directional orientation (facing nairṛti).
It functions as a practical ritual manual: it combines directional ritual science (dik-niyama), consecratory technique (prokṣaṇa), and purificatory substances (pañcagavya/arghya), demonstrating the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of applied liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
Sprinkling with pañcagavya and arghya-water is a śuddhi act meant to remove ritual impurity and obstructive influences, preparing the space so the sacrifice proceeds with purity and yields its intended religious merit (puṇya).