Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 54
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
तथा शिष्यप्रवेशाय प्रतिशिष्यं शतं जपेत् दुर् निमित्तापसाराय सुनिमित्तकृते तथा
tathā śiṣyapraveśāya pratiśiṣyaṃ śataṃ japet dur nimittāpasārāya sunimittakṛte tathā
De même, pour l’entrée-initiation d’un disciple (śiṣya-praveśa), on doit réciter (japa) le mantra cent fois pour chaque disciple ; et pareillement, on accomplit le japa afin d’écarter les présages néfastes et de faire naître des signes favorables.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Gives japa-count protocol for disciple entry/initiation and for śānti: 100 repetitions per disciple; japa for removing bad omens and generating auspicious signs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Japa-count for śiṣya-praveśa and nimitta-śānti","lookup_keywords":["śiṣya-praveśa","pratiśiṣyaṃ śatam","durnimitta","sunimitta","japa"],"quick_summary":"For each disciple’s entry/initiation, perform 100 mantra repetitions; similarly use japa as an omen-remedy to dispel inauspicious signs and cultivate auspiciousness."}
Concept: Saṃskāra-like purification and social-religious legitimacy of entry through mantra-discipline; śānti as removal of obstacles (vighna).
Application: Before admitting students/initiates, perform prescribed japa to stabilize the rite and address perceived inauspicious indicators.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Diksha and Mantra-japa for auspicious entry rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhaya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru admitting disciples into a ritual space; each disciple’s entry accompanied by counted japa; signs of inauspiciousness symbolically driven away and auspicious marks invoked.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru seated with japa-mālā, disciples in line at temple threshold; stylized omens (dark birds, broken pot) fading, auspicious symbols (kalasha, svastika) brightening; warm ochres and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: initiation-entry scene with gold-leaf haloed guru, disciples offering flowers; prominent rosary and mantra-scroll; auspicious kalasha and lamps with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional depiction—counting 100 japa per disciple with beads; threshold/maṇḍala drawn; subtle iconography of śānti (lamp, water pot).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: madrasa-like pavilion adapted to Hindu ritual; guru with rosary, disciples entering; attendants holding kalasha and incense; fine textile patterns and borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिष्य + प्रवेशाय → शिष्यप्रवेशाय; प्रति + शिष्यम् → प्रतिशिष्यम् (avyayībhāva ‘per disciple’); निमित्त + अपसाराय → निमित्तापसाराय; सु + निमित्त + कृते → सुनिमित्तकृते; दुः is written as दुर् before a consonant in continuous text.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: dīkṣā, śānti, and praveśa rites (same khanda context)
FAQs
It prescribes a quantified japa protocol: for śiṣya-praveśa (admission/initiation), perform 100 mantra repetitions per disciple, and use japa as a śānti-method to remove dur-nimitta (inauspicious omens) and generate su-nimitta (auspicious indications).
Beyond mythic narration, it records operational ritual procedure—counted recitation, initiation logistics, and omen-pacification—showing the text’s practical coverage of temple/household rites and applied religious technology (śānti-karma).
The verse frames mantra-japa as a purifier and protector: it ritually safeguards the disciple’s entry, neutralizes negative portents, and establishes auspicious conditions, thereby supporting dharmic continuity and reducing obstructive karma in the rite.