Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
भगलिङ्गसमायोगं विदध्याल्लिङ्गमुद्रया अट् ॐ ॐ अस्त्रमूर्तये नमः ॐ स्वां स्वं क्रूं फट् पाशुपतास्त्राय स्वाहा ॐ ॐ हृदयाय क्रूं फट् नमः ॐ पं शिखायै क्रूं फट् नमः ॐ खं कवचाय क्रूं फट् नमः ॐ हं फट् अस्त्राय फट् नमः इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अग्गुष्ठेन स्पृशेत् कुम्भं हृदा मुष्ट्यास्त्रवर्धनीं
bhagaliṅgasamāyogaṃ vidadhyālliṅgamudrayā aṭ oṃ oṃ astramūrtaye namaḥ oṃ svāṃ svaṃ krūṃ phaṭ pāśupatāstrāya svāhā oṃ oṃ hṛdayāya krūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ paṃ śikhāyai krūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ khaṃ kavacāya krūṃ phaṭ namaḥ oṃ haṃ phaṭ astrāya phaṭ namaḥ iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ agguṣṭhena spṛśet kumbhaṃ hṛdā muṣṭyāstravardhanīṃ
On doit accomplir la conjonction (samāyoga) du Bhaga-liṅga au moyen de la liṅga-mudrā, avec l’exclamation «aṭ». (Puis réciter :) «Oṁ Oṁ—hommage à Astramūrti. Oṁ svāṃ svaṃ krūṃ phaṭ—au Pāśupata-astra, svāhā. Oṁ Oṁ—au cœur, krūṃ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ paṃ—à la śikhā, krūṃ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ khaṃ—au kavaca, krūṃ phaṭ, hommage. Oṁ haṃ phaṭ—à l’astra, phaṭ, hommage.» Telle est la lecture d’un manuscrit marqué. Du pouce on touche le kumbha ; la main sur le cœur, poing fermé, est le geste qui fortifie l’astra-vardhanī.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Liṅga-mudrā-based samāyoga (conjunction/activation) of Bhaga-liṅga, followed by Pāśupata-astra mantra series and tactile mudrā actions (thumb-touching kumbha; heart-hand and fist) to ‘strengthen’ (vardhanī) the astra for kalasha-centered protection.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhaga-liṅga Samāyoga via Liṅga-mudrā and Pāśupata-astra Prayoga on Kumbha","lookup_keywords":["bhaga-liṅga","liṅga-mudrā","pāśupatāstra","krūṁ phaṭ","kumbha-sparśa"],"quick_summary":"Activate the liṅga-conjunction with the liṅga-mudrā, recite the Pāśupata-astra mantras (with krūṁ phaṭ), and seal the kumbha by prescribed touches and fist/heart gestures that intensify the astra’s protective force."}
Weapon Type: Astra (Pāśupata) as ritual weapon; Vardhanī as strengthening/augmenting weapon-function
Concept: Ritual ‘contact’ (sparśa) and ‘gesture’ (mudrā) are not symbolic only; they are treated as causal operators that bind mantra-śakti to a locus (kumbha/liṅga).
Application: When performing kalasha rites, coordinate mantra with precise mudrā and touch-points; treat the kumbha as a sealed vessel of power requiring deliberate ‘locking’ actions.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Lingodbhava/Shiva-linga worship; mantra-nyasa and astramantra prayoga)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest forms the liṅga-mudrā to activate Bhaga-liṅga, recites krūṁ phaṭ mantras, touches the kumbha with the thumb, then places a hand over the heart and makes a fist to strengthen the astra-vardhanī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest before a liṅga emblem and a decorated kumbha, hands in liṅga-mudrā, then thumb touching the pot; stylized mantra syllables ‘krūṁ phaṭ’ as decorative script bands; earthy palette and iconic symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central kumbha and liṅga symbol with gold aura, priest’s thumb touching the pot, other hand at heart in a sealing gesture; gold embossing on the kumbha rim and sacred syllables.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: stepwise instructional panel—(1) liṅga-mudrā, (2) mantra recitation, (3) thumb-touch kumbha, (4) heart-hand and fist; fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate shrine interior, priest performing precise hand gestures, close attention to fingers and thumb touching the pot, calligraphic mantra cartouches in the border, rich textiles and architectural arches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विदध्याल्लिङ्गमुद्रया = विदध्यात् + लिङ्गमुद्रया; (अग्गुष्ठेन) पाठभेदः = अङ्गुष्ठेन; मुष्ट्यास्त्रवर्धनीं = मुष्ट्या + अस्त्रवर्धनीम्; मन्त्रांशेषु विरामचिह्न-प्रयोगः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81.34-37 (vardhanī, astra-nyāsa, kumbha-rakṣā)
FAQs
It teaches a specific liṅga-mudrā application along with Paśupatāstra-centered mantra recitation and the standard nyāsa sequence (hṛdaya, śikhā, kavaca, astra), including touching the kumbha with the thumb and forming a fist-gesture described as astra-vardhanī (weapon-strengthening).
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves highly technical ritual mechanics—bīja-mantras, protective nyāsa placements, mudrā instructions, and manuscript-variant notation—showing the Agni Purana functioning as a practical manual for temple/household worship and mantra-prayoga.
The nyāsa and astra-mantras are intended to consecrate and protect the rite, purify the practitioner’s body as a ritual vessel, and invoke Śiva’s Paśupata power for removal of obstacles and safeguarding the worship.