Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 48
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
लवणैर् आजिकातक्रकटुतैलैश् च कण्टकैः वायव्ये कालमर्चयेदिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः समिद्भिरपि वक्राभिः क्रुद्धो भाष्याणुना यजेत्
lavaṇair ājikātakrakaṭutailaiś ca kaṇṭakaiḥ vāyavye kālamarcayediti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ samidbhirapi vakrābhiḥ kruddho bhāṣyāṇunā yajet
Avec du sel, de la moutarde, du babeurre, des huiles âcres et piquantes, et aussi avec des épines, dans la direction Vāyavya (nord‑ouest) on doit vénérer Kāla—ainsi le porte la leçon du manuscrit marqué. Même avec des baguettes de bois de feu courbées, lorsqu’on est courroucé, on doit accomplir l’offrande selon l’instruction explicative (bhāṣya).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) to sage Vasiṣṭha (contextual attribution for this section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Directional (dik) placement of fierce offerings and selection of pungent/irritant dravyas for Kāla-related rites; indicates variant readings and permissibility of substitute samidh for homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāyavya-dik Kāla-arcana with kaṭu-dravya and kaṇṭaka; vakra-samidh allowance","lookup_keywords":["Vāyavya","Kāla-arcana","lavaṇa","kaṭu-taila","vakra-samidh"],"quick_summary":"For Kāla worship in the north-west, pungent and irritant substances (salt, mustard, buttermilk, pungent oils, thorns) are prescribed; even bent fuel-sticks may be used per the explanatory tradition."}
Concept: Dravya-dik-kāla-saṃyoga: efficacy depends on correct substance and direction; śāstra accommodates sanctioned substitutions (vakra-samidh) when grounded in bhāṣya.
Application: When performing ugra-karmas, follow dik-niyama and dravya-niyama; if ideal materials are unavailable, use permitted substitutes only when supported by authoritative instruction.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-kalpa (Ritual procedures involving directional deities and fierce offerings)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kuṇḍa set toward the north-west, with a sādhaka offering salt, mustard, buttermilk, pungent oil, and thorny twigs to a fierce Kāla presence; bent fuel-sticks stacked beside the fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, a square homa-kuṇḍa facing north-west, fierce Kāla as dark radiant form with halo, sādhaka in white dhoti offering lavaṇa and sarṣapa, thorny branches and bent samidh, stylized flames and dik markers, traditional flat shading","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold leaf, central homa fire with gold highlights, Kāla as fierce guardian presence at the north-west corner, sādhaka offering small bowls of salt and mustard, thorny twigs, rich textiles, temple lamp glow, heavy jewelry detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft colors, instructional layout showing Vāyavya direction arrow, homa-kuṇḍa, labeled offerings (lavaṇa, sarṣapa, takra, kaṭu-taila, kaṇṭaka), bent samidh bundle, calm but intense ritual focus","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine architectural courtyard, homa altar oriented to north-west, attendants holding bowls of pungent substances, thorny branches, sādhaka performing offering, subtle depiction of Kāla as shadowy aura, intricate borders and flora"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लवणैर्→लवणैः; तैलैश्→तैलैः; कालमर्चयेत्→कालम् + अर्चयेत्; समिद्भिरपि→समिद्भिः + अपि; वक्राभिः (समिद्भिः इति विशेषण); भाष्याणुना→भाष्य-अणुना (समास). Text contains editorial note ‘ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः’ treated as non-verse marker + heading.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (tantra-kalpa sections on dik-devatā, ugra-homa, śānti/vaśya procedures)
FAQs
It prescribes a Vāyavya-direction rite: worship/propitiation of Kāla using sharp, pungent, and piercing substances (salt, mustard, buttermilk, pungent oils, thorns) and even specific kinds of samidh (crooked fuel-sticks) suited to a fierce (krodha) procedure.
It records highly specific operational details—direction (Vāyavya), deity-form (Kāla), and exact materials—showing the text’s catalog-like coverage of ritual technology alongside its preservation of variant readings noted by scribes/commentators.
As a fierce propitiatory act, it channels intense intent (krodha) into regulated offering, aiming to control adverse forces through prescribed substances and direction-based worship, thereby converting raw emotion into ritually bounded, merit-bearing action.