Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 64
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
प्रसृतिं प्रसृतिं पश्चाद्वर्धयेद् द्व्यादिषु क्रमात् कुर्याच्चानलमन्त्रेण पिधानं कवचाणुना
prasṛtiṃ prasṛtiṃ paścādvardhayed dvyādiṣu kramāt kuryāccānalamantreṇa pidhānaṃ kavacāṇunā
Ensuite, l’on doit accroître progressivement—en commençant par deux (unités)—en ajoutant à chaque étape une mesure de « prasṛti ». Puis, au moyen du Mantra du Feu (Anala-mantra), on accomplit le pidhāna (fermeture/scellement) avec le kavaca-mantra dans sa forme subtile (anu).
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator) addressing Sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Scaling a protective rite by incremental prasṛti units and performing ritual sealing (pidhāna) using Anala-mantra and subtle kavaca-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kramavardhana (incremental increase) and pidhāna with Anala-mantra & kavaca-anu","lookup_keywords":["prasṛti-vardhana","kramāt","Anala-mantra","kavaca-mantra","pidhāna"],"quick_summary":"Increase the rite’s measure stepwise (starting from two units) by adding one prasṛti at a time, then seal/close the operation using the Fire-mantra and the subtle form of the kavaca-mantra."}
Concept: Kramavidhi (graduated procedure) and rakṣā (protective containment) as essential to mantra-prayoga.
Application: When intensifying a practice, increase inputs gradually and conclude with a formal protective closure to prevent leakage of intent/energy.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Agneya-vidya: protective rites, kavaca and mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist increases measured offerings in a sequence (two, three, four…) and then performs a sealing gesture while reciting Anala-mantra and kavaca.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before a small altar, bowls marked with increasing measures, right hand in sealing mudrā, stylized flames behind, sacred geometry border motifs, subdued ochres and reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, priest seated with ritual vessels, gold leaf halo-like aura around the fire, visible sequence of measure-cups, ornate kavaca scroll motif, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional panel, clearly depicted measure increments (2,3,4) beside vessels, priest performing pidhāna gesture, neat labels, soft pastel background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual chamber, meticulous depiction of measuring cups and incremental additions, the officiant sealing the rite with a gesture, fine calligraphy cartouche reading ‘Anala’ and ‘Kavaca’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्चाद्वर्धयेत् = पश्चात् + वर्धयेत्; द्व्यादिषु = द्वि + आदिषु; कuryāccānalamantreṇa = कुर्यात् + च + अनलमन्त्रेण; कवचाणुना = कवच + अणुना
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (kavaca, mantra-prayoga, māna-vardhana context)
FAQs
It teaches a precise mantra-prayoga: offerings or ritual steps are increased successively by the ‘prasṛti’ unit (starting from two), and the rite is then ritually ‘sealed’ (pidhāna) using the Anala (Agni) mantra together with a protective kavaca application.
It preserves operational detail—measurement units (prasṛti), ordered increments (dvy-ādi kramāt), and specialized ritual actions like pidhāna with kavaca—showing the text’s practical manual-like coverage of mantra, protection rites, and liturgical procedure.
The incremental offering and the final ‘sealing’ with Agni and kavaca mantras are meant to stabilize the rite, prevent ritual leakage/obstruction, and establish protective purity—supporting merit (puṇya) and safeguarding the practitioner’s intention.