Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 87
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
शिवे प्रक्षेपयेत् पुष्पमपनीयार्चकन्तारं तत्पात्रस्थानमन्त्राढ्यं शिवदेवगणानुगं
śive prakṣepayet puṣpamapanīyārcakantāraṃ tatpātrasthānamantrāḍhyaṃ śivadevagaṇānugaṃ
On doit jeter une fleur sur Śiva ; après avoir écarté l’élément (rituellement) impur ou obstructif près de l’officiant, on établira ensuite le vase approprié et son emplacement, richement accompagné de mantras, conformément à Śiva et aux troupes de ses divinités (gaṇa).
Lord Agni (in narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Śiva-pūjā step: offering a पुष्प (flower) to Śiva, removing ritual obstacles/impurity near the worshipper, then establishing the correct vessel and its placement with mantra-support, aligned with Śiva and his gaṇas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Puṣpa-prakṣepa, doṣa/antarāya-apohana, and mantra-yukta pātra-sthāpana in Śiva-pūjā","lookup_keywords":["puṣpa","pātra-sthāpana","mantra","gaṇa","apohana"],"quick_summary":"Offer a flower to Śiva, clear obstructive/impure factors from the worship space, and install the ritual vessel in its proper place with accompanying mantras, invoking harmony with Śiva and his gaṇas."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on both devotion (flower offering) and correct ritual ecology—removing obstacles and establishing supports (pātra, mantra, retinue alignment).
Application: Before key offerings, tidy and ritually ‘clear’ the space; place vessels consistently and accompany actions with appropriate mantras to maintain continuity of worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śiva-pūjā and mantra-ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper casts a flower onto the Śiva-liṅga, then ritually clears the area (sweeping/aspersion), and carefully places a consecrated vessel on its marked spot while chanting, with gaṇas subtly depicted as protective attendants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva-liṅga with garlands, devotee tossing a flower mid-air, priest clearing space with water/kuśa, vessel placed on a yantra-marked altar, faint gaṇa figures in the background, lamp glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished Śiva shrine, dramatic flower offering, ornate ritual vessels with gold accents, gaṇa attendants stylized, rich reds and greens, symmetrical altar layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, procedural clarity: three-step composition—flower offering, clearing impurity, vessel placement with mantra scroll, clean lines and soft colors, instructional emphasis on placement","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual room with patterned floor, flower thrown toward liṅga, attendant removing obstructive items, vessel set precisely, subtle gaṇa imagery in architectural niches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puṣpam + apanīya → puṣpamapanīya; apanīya + arcaka-antāram → apanīyārcakantāram; tat + pātra-sthāna-mantra-āḍhyam → tatpātrasthānamantrāḍhyam; śiva + deva + gaṇa + anugam → śivadevagaṇānugam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (upacāra sequence; mantra accompaniment; pūjā layout)
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva pūjā step: offering a flower to Śiva, removing ritual hindrances/impurities around the officiant, and correctly placing the worship vessel(s) with proper mantra-recitation.
By preserving precise, procedural temple-and-home worship instructions (pūjā-vidhi)—including purity management, vessel placement, and mantra protocol—alongside the Purana’s many other technical domains.
It emphasizes purity, order, and mantra-alignment in worship, which are traditionally held to make the offering effective, remove obstacles (vighna), and secure Śiva’s grace through correct observance.