Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 35
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
ः अस्त्रासनाय हूं फट् ॐ ॐ अस्त्रमूर्तये नमः ॐ हूं फट् पाशुपतास्त्राय नमः ॐ ॐ हृदयाय हूं फट् नमः ॐ श्रीं शिरसे हूं फट् नमः ॐ यं शिखायै हूं फट् नमः ॐ गूं कवचाय हूं फट् नमः ॐ फट् अस्त्राय हूं फट् नमःचतुर्वक्त्रं सदंष्ट्रञ्च स्मरेदस्त्रं सशक्तिकं समुद्गरत्रिशूलासिं सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभं
ḥ astrāsanāya hūṃ phaṭ oṃ oṃ astramūrtaye namaḥ oṃ hūṃ phaṭ pāśupatāstrāya namaḥ oṃ oṃ hṛdayāya hūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ śrīṃ śirase hūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ yaṃ śikhāyai hūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ gūṃ kavacāya hūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ phaṭ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ namaḥcaturvaktraṃ sadaṃṣṭrañca smaredastraṃ saśaktikaṃ samudgaratriśūlāsiṃ sūryakoṭisamaprabhaṃ
«ḥ—au siège de l’arme, hūṁ phaṭ. Oṁ, oṁ—hommage à l’Arme en sa forme incarnée (Astramūrti). Oṁ hūṁ phaṭ—hommage à l’arme Pāśupata. Oṁ, oṁ—au cœur, hūṁ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ śrīṁ—à la tête, hūṁ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ yaṁ—à la śikhā (touffe), hūṁ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ gūṁ—au kavaca (cuirasse), hūṁ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ phaṭ—à l’astra (arme), hūṁ phaṭ, hommage.» On méditera l’arme comme ayant quatre faces et des crocs, pourvue de Śakti, portant massue, trident et épée, d’un éclat égal à dix millions de soleils.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Astra-nyāsa and Pāśupata-astra invocation for protective sealing (rakṣā) of the practitioner and rite; includes dhyāna of the astra’s form for visualization-based empowerment.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Pāśupata-astra Nyāsa Mantras and Astra-dhyāna (four-faced, fanged, radiant)","lookup_keywords":["pāśupatāstra","astra-nyāsa","hūṁ phaṭ","kavaca-śikhā-hṛdaya","astra-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Recite the astra-series (āsana, mūrti, pāśupata, hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, astra) and visualize the weapon-deity as a fierce, four-faced radiant form; this functions as a ritual shield and purifier."}
Alamkara Type: Atiśayokti
Weapon Type: Astra (Pāśupata), plus mace, trident, sword as iconographic weapons
Concept: Mantra is operationalized through nyāsa (embodiment) and dhyāna (form-fixation), converting ‘sound’ into ‘protective presence’.
Application: Use aṅga-nyāsa to seal heart/head/topknot/armor/weapon points; maintain a stable visualization of the astra-mūrti to sustain protective focus during rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-Mantra (Astra-nyasa and Pashupata-astra dhyana)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce personified weapon-deity appears in meditation: four faces, fangs, blazing like countless suns, holding mace, trident, and sword, accompanied by Śakti; the practitioner performs aṅga-nyāsa while reciting hūṁ phaṭ mantras.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central astra-mūrti with four faces and prominent fangs, fiery aureole, weapons in hands, Śakti beside; priest in foreground touching heart/head/topknot/armor points (nyāsa), bold reds and blacks with traditional flat stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: astra-mūrti enthroned with heavy gold halo, embossed weapons, Śakti ornamented; mantra syllables (hūṁ phaṭ) subtly inscribed around; priest performing nyāsa, gold work emphasizing solar radiance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean, detailed depiction of nyāsa sequence with the astra-mūrti above as visualization target; fine linework on weapons (mudgara, triśūla, asi), controlled palette, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: dramatic apparition of a four-faced radiant guardian-weapon in a night-lit shrine, delicate rendering of flames and weaponry, the sādhaka seated reciting with hand-gestures, ornate borders with mantra cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रावयेनमूलमुच्चरन् इत्यादिवत् मन्त्रपाठे संधि-लोप/विरामचिह्न-प्रयोगः; नमःचतुर्वक्त्रं = नमः + चतुर्-वक्त्रम्; सदंष्ट्रञ्च = स-दंष्ट्रम् + च; स्मरेदस्त्रं = स्मरेत् + अस्त्रम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (astra-vidhi, nyāsa, kumbha-rakṣā)
FAQs
It teaches astra-nyāsa and dhyāna: installing protective mantras on heart, head, śikhā, and kavaca, while invoking the Pāśupata-astra and visualizing its empowered, deity-like form.
Alongside mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual-technology—mantra syllables, nyāsa mapping on the body, and weapon-deity visualization—showing how Purāṇas encode practical liturgical and protective systems.
By consecrating the body through nyāsa and invoking the Pāśupata power with controlled visualization, the practitioner seeks purification, protection, and the disciplined use of divine force aligned with dharma rather than personal aggression.