Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शक्त्या यां कुरुते शम्भुः सा साधिकरणोच्यते प्रलयानल इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः प्रलयात्मक इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः इयं चतुर्विधा प्रोक्ता सवीजा वीजवर्जिता
śaktyā yāṃ kurute śambhuḥ sā sādhikaraṇocyate pralayānala iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pralayātmaka iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ iyaṃ caturvidhā proktā savījā vījavarjitā
Ce que Śambhu accomplit au moyen de la Śakti est appelé « sādhikaraṇa ». Dans la leçon du manuscrit marqué, on lit « pralayānala » (« le feu de la dissolution »), tandis qu’une autre leçon marquée donne « pralayātmaka » (« de nature dissolutive »). Cette Śakti/opération est déclarée quadruple—(dont deux types :) avec semence (savījā) et sans semence (vījavarjitā).
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic and technical doctrine to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Classifying Śakti’s operation as sādhikaraṇa (supported/with locus) and relating it to pralaya (dissolution) dynamics; using the fourfold scheme (including savīja/vījavarjitā) to choose mantra-sadhana aimed at transformation vs dissolution of latent seeds.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śakti in Pralaya-mode: Sādhikaraṇa, Savīja and Vījavarjitā (Fourfold)","lookup_keywords":["pralaya","shakti","sadhikarana","savija","bijavarjita"],"quick_summary":"Śambhu’s Śakti-operation is termed sādhikaraṇa and is linked with dissolution (pralaya). It is taught as fourfold, including modes ‘with seed’ and ‘seedless’, guiding whether practice works by transforming latent impressions or extinguishing them."}
Concept: Dissolution is not merely cosmic catastrophe but a principled Śakti-function with modes: supported operation and graded ‘seeded/seedless’ states indicating whether causal potentials remain.
Application: For inner ‘pralaya’ (laya) practice, observe whether vasanas persist (savīja) or are extinguished (vījavarjitā); adjust sadhana toward deeper absorption and non-recrudescence of impressions.
Khanda Section: Shaiva-Tantra / Shakti-Tattva and Cosmic Dissolution (Pralaya-vidya)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śiva (Śambhu) with Śakti as a dynamic force, showing a pralaya-fire or dissolution-wave; a diagrammatic inset shows four modes, including savīja and vījavarjitā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, fierce yet controlled pralaya scene: Śiva calm at center, Śakti as flaming aura, cosmic elements dissolving, inset fourfold symbols with seed/seedless motifs, bold temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Śiva with gold halo, stylized pralaya flames rendered with gold highlights, cosmic lotus dissolving, side medallions labeled savīja/vījavarjitā, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional cosmology plate: Śiva-Śakti central, four quadrants explaining modes, clean labeling, soft colors, emphasis on clarity over drama.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical cosmic dissolution with refined flames and swirling clouds, Śiva serene, marginal annotations for variant readings ‘pralayānala/pralayātmaka’, delicate detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: साधिकरणोच्यते = साधिकरणा + उच्यते. Verse contains editorial variant notes: ‘प्रलयानलः’ (ख) vs ‘प्रलयात्मकः’ (ङ). Markers ख/ङ treated as manuscript indicators (avyaya).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (Śakti-tattva and diksha gradations); Agni Purana cosmology/pralaya chapters (general, elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It gives a technical classification of Śiva’s operation through Śakti, naming it ‘sādhikaraṇa’ and linking it to pralaya (dissolution), further dividing the doctrine into four modes characterized as ‘with bīja’ (savījā) and ‘without bīja’ (vījavarjitā).
Alongside ritual and dharma material, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves systematic taxonomies from Śaiva-Tantric cosmology—here, a doctrinal classification of Śakti and pralaya terminology (including manuscript variants), illustrating its role as a compendium of multiple knowledge-systems.
By framing dissolution (pralaya) as an aspect of Śiva-Śakti functioning, the verse encourages a contemplative understanding of creation and destruction as divine processes—supporting detachment (vairāgya) and orienting practice toward liberation rather than fear of cosmic change.