Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
अध्याय 82 — संस्कारदीक्षाकथनम्
Saṃskāra-Dīkṣā: Consecratory Initiation
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये समयदीक्षाकथनं नाम एकाशीतितमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्व्यशीतितमो ऽध्यायः संस्कारदीक्षाकथनं ईश्वर उवाच वक्ष्ये संस्कारदीक्षायां विधानं शृणु षण्मुख आवाहयेन्महेशस्य वह्निस्थस्य शिरो हृदि
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye samayadīkṣākathanaṃ nāma ekāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvyaśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ saṃskāradīkṣākathanaṃ īśvara uvāca vakṣye saṃskāradīkṣāyāṃ vidhānaṃ śṛṇu ṣaṇmukha āvāhayenmaheśasya vahnisthasya śiro hṛdi
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa—au sein du Grand Purāṇa primordial—s’achève le quatre-vingt-unième chapitre, intitulé « Exposé de la Samaya-dīkṣā (initiation par vœu/discipline) ». Commence maintenant le quatre-vingt-deuxième chapitre, « Exposé de la Saṃskāra-dīkṣā (initiation de consécration) ». Le Seigneur dit : « Je vais énoncer la règle de l’initiation saṃskāra ; écoute, ô Toi aux Six Visages. Qu’on invoque Maheśa, demeurant dans le feu sacrificiel, en plaçant (nyāsa) la “tête” (mantra) dans le cœur ».
Īśvara (Lord Śiva), instructing Ṣaṇmukha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Transition into saṃskāra-dīkṣā: invoking Maheśa in the fire and performing nyāsa-like placement (head in heart) as part of consecratory initiation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Saṃskāra-dīkṣā opening: Maheśa-āvāhana in fire and śiras-hṛdaya-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["saṃskāra-dīkṣā","Maheśa āvāhana","vahni-stha","śiras nyāsa","hṛdaya"],"quick_summary":"The chapter begins saṃskāra-initiation: invoke Maheśa as present in the sacrificial fire and establish internal placement by setting the ‘head’ principle into the heart."}
Concept: External āvāhana and internal nyāsa are paired: deity is invoked in fire while consciousness is centered in the heart.
Application: In initiation, coordinate outer ritual focus (fire) with inner placement (hṛdaya) to stabilize sādhaka’s attention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantric Diksha-vidhi (Initiation rites and ritual consecrations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal chapter-opening scene: Īśvara instructs Ṣaṇmukha; in the ritual pavilion a fire blazes, and the practitioner invokes Maheśa in the flames while touching heart region to place ‘head’ principle into the heart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated Īśvara teaching Ṣaṇmukha, stylized fire-altar between them, Maheśa’s presence suggested as luminous form within flames, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central fire with gold radiance, teacher-deity and six-faced disciple, ornate borders, ritual implements, subtle haloed Maheśa emerging from fire","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: gesture of touching heart (hṛdaya-nyāsa) clearly shown, fire-altar labeled, calm symmetrical layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly instruction scene in a pavilion, detailed flames, delicate hand gesture to heart, fine textiles and architectural arches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn-instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (यण्-सन्धि)। एकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः = एकाशीतितमः + अध्यायः। द्व्यशीतितमोऽध्यायः = द्व्यशीतितमः + अध्यायः। आवाहयेन्महेशस्य = आवाहयेत् + महेशस्य। वह्निस्थस्य = वह्नि + स्थस्य (तत्पुरुषः)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (Samaya-dīkṣā conclusion); Agni Purana 82 (Saṃskāra-dīkṣā procedures that follow)
FAQs
It introduces the saṃskāra-dīkṣā ritual method, specifically the practice of invoking Maheśa as present in the consecrated fire and performing an internal placement (nyāsa) of the ‘head’ aspect into the heart.
It exemplifies the text’s ritual-technical coverage by cataloging distinct initiation types (samaya-dīkṣā and saṃskāra-dīkṣā) and prescribing precise liturgical actions (āvāhana into fire, internal nyāsa), alongside its many other domains.
Invoking Śiva in the sacrificial fire and internalizing the deity through heart-nyāsa is presented as a purificatory consecration that aligns the initiate’s inner being with the mantra-deity, strengthening vows and ritual eligibility.