Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 40
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
प्रणवस्थं चतुर्बाहुं वायव्ये गणमर्चयेत् स्थण्डिले शिवमभ्यर्च्य सार्घ्यकुण्डं व्रजेन्नरः
praṇavasthaṃ caturbāhuṃ vāyavye gaṇamarcayet sthaṇḍile śivamabhyarcya sārghyakuṇḍaṃ vrajennaraḥ
Dans le quartier nord‑ouest (vāyavya), on doit vénérer le Gaṇa établi sur la syllabe Oṁ et pourvu de quatre bras. Après avoir adoré Śiva sur le sol rituel (sthaṇḍila), l’officiant doit se rendre à la fosse d’offrande d’arghya (sārghya‑kuṇḍa).
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Directional placement and iconographic specification for worship of Gaṇa/Gaṇapati and Śiva within a structured puja sequence leading to arghya-kunda.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vayavya-dik Gaṇa-puja and Sthaṇḍila-Śiva-arcana leading to Sārghya-kuṇḍa","lookup_keywords":["vayavya","gana","pranava","caturbhuja","sarghya-kunda"],"quick_summary":"Worship the four-armed Gaṇa established in Oṁ in the northwest; then worship Śiva on the ritual ground and proceed to the arghya-offering pit for the next rite."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct dik (direction), devata-sthāpana (placement), and krama (sequence) from Gaṇa-arcana to Śiva-arcana.
Application: Design puja layout: place Gaṇa worship in NW, perform Śiva worship on sthaṇḍila, then transition to arghya-kunda stage.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva–Ganapatya ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Directional (dik) context
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala with the northwest quarter marked; a four-armed Gaṇa associated with Oṁ is worshipped there, then the worshipper turns to a prepared sthaṇḍila to worship Śiva and walks toward the arghya-offering pit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala floor with vāyavya corner highlighted, four-armed Gaṇa icon with Oṁ motif, priest offering flowers, nearby sthaṇḍila with Śiva-symbol, procession toward a small kuṇḍa, bold contours and temple palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Gaṇa with four arms and ornate jewelry, Oṁ emblem above, priest at NW side of a decorated ritual platform, gold-worked borders, Śiva worship indicated by liṅga on sthaṇḍila, arghya-kunda shown with shimmering gold accents","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labeled NW corner, Gaṇa iconography (caturbhuja) and Oṁ, sthaṇḍila with Śiva-liṅga, path to sārghya-kuṇḍa, fine lines and instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion adapted as ritual space, priest worshipping a small Gaṇa image in NW, then moving to a ground altar for Śiva, attendants holding arghya vessels near a pit, intricate textiles and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gaṇamarcayet → gaṇam + arcayet; śivamabhyarcya → śivam + abhyarcya; sārghyakuṇḍaṃ → sa-arghya-kuṇḍam; vrajennaraḥ → vrajet + naraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (dik-krama in puja; gaṇapati/śaiva upāsanā steps)
FAQs
It teaches a step in Shaiva worship: perform directional (vāyavya) worship of a specific Gaṇa visualized as Om-established and four-armed, then worship Śiva on the prepared ritual ground (sthaṇḍila) and proceed to the arghya-offering pit (sārghya-kuṇḍa) for the next oblation.
By preserving precise liturgical sequencing—directional deity placement, iconographic markers (four arms, Praṇava-seat), and ritual infrastructure terms (sthaṇḍila, arghya-kuṇḍa)—it functions as a practical ritual manual alongside the Purana’s broader coverage of many disciplines.
The verse emphasizes orderly, mantra-grounded worship (Praṇava-centered visualization) and respectful offering (arghya), which are traditionally held to purify the worshipper, align the rite with cosmic directions, and secure the grace of Śiva and his Gaṇas.