Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 38
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शस्त्रञ्च मूलमन्त्रस्य शतं कुम्भे निवेशयेत् तद्दशांशेन वर्धन्यां रक्षां विज्ञापयेत्ततः
śastrañca mūlamantrasya śataṃ kumbhe niveśayet taddaśāṃśena vardhanyāṃ rakṣāṃ vijñāpayettataḥ
On doit déposer l’arme, avec cent récitations/infusions du mantra racine, dans une jarre d’eau (kumbha) ; puis, avec le dixième de cela (c’est‑à‑dire dix), dans un vase d’aspersion, on doit proclamer et investir de puissance le rite de protection (rakṣā).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-infused ritual protection (raksha) by charging a weapon and water-vessels for safeguarding the rite/space and participants.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mula-mantra-nyasa in Kumbha and Raksha in Vardhani","lookup_keywords":["mula-mantra","kumbha","vardhani","raksha","shastra-nyasa"],"quick_summary":"Charge a weapon and a kumbha with 100 root-mantra infusions; then empower the raksha using one-tenth (10) in a sprinkling vessel for protective deployment."}
Weapon Type: General weapon (śastra) used as ritual implement
Concept: Mantra-shakti is made operative through nyasa/abhimantrana and measured repetition (saṅkhyā) to produce raksha.
Application: Standardize protective rites by fixed counts (100/10) and vessel-based deployment (kumbha/vardhani).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-raksha & ritual protection procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist places a weapon beside/into a consecrated water-pot (kumbha) while reciting the root-mantra; a smaller sprinkling vessel (vardhani) is prepared for protective sprinkling around the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, priest in white dhoti near a homa-vedi, copper kumbha with mango leaves and coconut, a ritual weapon laid with mantra-threads, assistant holding vardhani for sprinkling, warm earthy palette, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kumbha with ornate gold embossing, ritual weapon and mantra-patra, priest performing abhimantrana, rich reds and greens, gold highlights on vessels and altar implements","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional layout showing kumbha on one side and vardhani on the other, priest counting japa beads, clear depiction of vessels and weapon, delicate lines and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual chamber with patterned floor, priest reciting while placing weapon near a water-pot, attendants with small sprinkling vessel, fine textiles and precise object rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śastrañca → śastram + ca; taddaśāṃśena → tat + daśāṃśena; vijñāpayettataḥ → vijñāpayet + tataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (Puja-vidhi: raksha, kumbha, homa preliminaries)
FAQs
It teaches a precise rakṣā-vidhi: charging a weapon and ritual water in a kumbha with 100 applications/recitations of the mūla-mantra, then using 1/10 of that potency in a vardhanī (sprinkling vessel) to ritually empower the protective safeguard.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves operational ritual technology—counts, vessels (kumbha/vardhanī), and steps for mantra-empowerment—showing it functions as a practical manual for protection rites in addition to being a mythic text.
By mantra-infusing a weapon and consecrated water and formally establishing rakṣā, the practitioner seeks dharmic protection and purification—transforming a worldly implement into a ritually sanctioned safeguard aligned with sacred order.