Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 90
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
निजग्रहलीनाञ्च दर्भमूलेन मन्त्रितं सुवर्णञ्चेति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः शिवात्मनेति ख, ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः अपनीयाधिकाम्बरं इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सदक्षिणासन तत्रेति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दर्भाग्रं दक्षिणे तस्य विधाय करपल्लवे
nijagrahalīnāñca darbhamūlena mantritaṃ suvarṇañceti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ śivātmaneti kha, ga, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ apanīyādhikāmbaraṃ iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sadakṣiṇāsana tatreti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ darbhāgraṃ dakṣiṇe tasya vidhāya karapallave
Après avoir placé (la personne/l’objet) sous son contrôle et l’avoir consacré par un mantra au moyen de la racine de l’herbe darbha préalablement mantrée—(les manuscrits donnent aussi des leçons variantes telles que « suvarṇam—l’or », « śivātmane », « apanīya adhikāmbaraṃ » et « sa-dakṣiṇāsana tatreti »)—il faut disposer la pointe de la darbha à sa droite, sur la paume de la main (c’est-à-dire dans la main droite) selon le rite.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ritual handling of darbha: mantra-consecration, control/containment gesture, and correct placement of darbha tip on the right side/palm during mantra-prayoga; also notes textual variants for correct recitation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Darbha-mantrita-grahaṇa: Right-side placement and pāṭha-bheda notes","lookup_keywords":["darbha-mūla","mantrita","dakṣiṇa","karapallava","pāṭha-bheda"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate darbha by mantra (using its root), maintain ritual control, and place the darbha tip on the right side in the palm; variant manuscript readings are acknowledged for accurate liturgical performance."}
Concept: Material implements become ‘operative’ through mantra-saṃskāra; correctness includes both physical placement and fidelity to transmitted readings (pāṭha).
Application: During pūjā/homa, treat darbha as a mantra-charged tool: consecrate at the root, hold/position on the right palm, and verify pāṭha-bheda per one’s recension.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual procedure and mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up ritual action: the guru consecrates darbha with mantra at its root, then places the darbha tip on the right side in the open right palm, with ritual manuscripts nearby indicating variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, enlarged hands holding darbha, glowing mantra aura around the grass root, palm-leaf manuscript bundle at side, homa fire softly in background, stylized lines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold detailing on the darbha and manuscript edges, priest’s right palm prominently shown, ornate ritual tray, rich textile patterns, sacred fire glow.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional close-up with clear depiction of darbha root vs tip, right-hand placement emphasized, neat composition like a ritual manual illustration.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous still-life of ritual objects—darbha, manuscript, small vessel—priest’s hand gesture captured with fine detail, subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निजग्रहलीनाञ्च = निजग्रहलीनान् + च; दर्भमूलेन = दर्भ + मूलेन; सुवर्णञ्चेति = सुवर्णम् + च + इति. Verse contains manuscript-variant notes (ga/kha/gha/ṅa) omitted from pada analysis as non-śloka apparatus.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi on prokṣaṇa, darbha usage, and mantra-saṃskāra; Agni Purana: Mantra-prayoga sections noting pāṭhāntara (variant readings)
FAQs
It gives a procedural rule for mantra-empowerment (mantrita) using darbha-root and the correct placement of the darbha tip on the practitioner’s right side/palm as part of ritual handling.
It preserves granular ritual-technology—implements (darbha), bodily orientation (dakṣiṇa/right), and manuscript variants—showing the Agni Purana’s compendium-like coverage of practical liturgical details alongside theology.
Right-side orientation and darbha use are standard purity-controls in Hindu rites; following them is understood to stabilize mantra efficacy, maintain ritual śuddhi (purity), and support the intended merit (puṇya) of the act.