Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 83
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
बध्वामन्त्रितवस्त्रेण सितेन सदशेन च अप्_८१०८३अब्प्रदक्षिणक्रमादेनं प्रवेश्य शिवदक्षिणं
badhvāmantritavastreṇa sitena sadaśena ca ap_81083abpradakṣiṇakramādenaṃ praveśya śivadakṣiṇaṃ
L’ayant lié avec un tissu consacré—blanc et muni de dix nœuds/tours selon la règle—on doit ensuite le faire entrer selon l’ordre correct de la circumambulation, en gardant Śiva à droite (pradakṣiṇā).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Temple-entry and pūjā protocol: binding with consecrated white cloth and performing pradakṣiṇā with correct right-hand orientation to Śiva before formal entry/installation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pradakṣiṇā-krama with consecrated white cloth (daśa-granthi) for Śiva-arcana entry","lookup_keywords":["pradakṣiṇā","śiva-dakṣiṇa","mantrita-vastra","śveta-vastra","daśa-granthi"],"quick_summary":"Bind with a mantra-consecrated white cloth (with the prescribed ten knots/turns) and enter by the correct circumambulation sequence, keeping Śiva on the right (pradakṣiṇā)."}
Concept: Right-oriented circumambulation signifies placing the deity at the spiritual center and aligning one’s body-mind with sacred order (niyama).
Application: Maintain consistent pradakṣiṇā etiquette (deity to the right) and ritual purity markers (consecrated cloth) during worship and initiatory entry.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śiva-arcana / Pradakṣiṇa and ritual entry procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee or initiate, bound with a consecrated white cloth with visible knots, performs clockwise circumambulation in a Śiva temple corridor, keeping the Śiva-liṅga/shrine to the right before entering the sanctum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, Śiva shrine with lamp-lit pradakṣiṇā-patha, devotee in white consecrated cloth with ten knots, clockwise movement indicated by repeated figure positions, sacred calm atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf ornate Śiva shrine and arch, devotee in bright white cloth with knotted sash, stylized pradakṣiṇā around liṅga, rich jewelry and halo effects, temple lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing procedural steps: binding the white consecrated cloth with ten knots, then pradakṣiṇā path around Śiva shrine, labeled ritual implements, soft pastel background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple courtyard with circumambulatory corridor, devotee in white cloth with knotted band, attendants, Śiva shrine central, precise architectural detailing and patterned floor guiding clockwise motion"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: badhvā + mantrita-vastreṇa → badhvāmantritavastreṇa; pradakṣiṇa-krama-ādenaṃ in IAST appears with extra anusvāra; taken as pradakṣiṇakramādena (adverbial avyayībhāva).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (Śiva-arcana / pūjā-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana sections on pūjā-upacāra and pradakṣiṇā rules (within pūjā-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It teaches a specific Śiva-pūjā protocol: using a mantra-consecrated white cloth (with a tenfold/ten-knot prescription) and entering by the correct clockwise pradakṣiṇā sequence, keeping Śiva to one’s right.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical liturgical details—materials (mantrita-vastra), color specifications (white), numeric ritual constraints (tenfold measure), and movement rules (pradakṣiṇā)—showing the text’s procedural, manual-like breadth.
Clockwise pradakṣiṇā with the deity on the right is a standard marker of reverence and ritual correctness; performing entry and circumambulation in the prescribed way is treated as purifying and merit-producing through disciplined devotion.