Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
अध्याय 82 — संस्कारदीक्षाकथनम्
Saṃskāra-Dīkṣā: Consecratory Initiation
इत्येवमादिभिश्चिह्नैर् हुत्वा शिष्यस्य कल्मषं पापभक्षणहोमेन दहेद्वा तं भवात्मना
ityevamādibhiścihnair hutvā śiṣyasya kalmaṣaṃ pāpabhakṣaṇahomena dahedvā taṃ bhavātmanā
Après avoir offert des oblations accompagnées de tels signes et d’autres semblables, on doit brûler la souillure (kalmaṣa) du disciple; ou bien, au moyen du homa « pāpa-bhakṣaṇa » (dévoreur de péché), on doit consumer cette impureté, avec la conscience de s’identifier à Bhava (Śiva).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Śiṣya-śuddhi and prāyaścitta through homa: using prescribed signs and ‘pāpa-bhakṣaṇa’ offerings to remove ritual/ethical impurity, performed with Bhava (Śiva) bhāvanā (self-identification).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāpa-bhakṣaṇa Homa for Disciple Purification (Bhava-bhāvanā)","lookup_keywords":["śiṣya kalmaṣa","prāyaścitta homa","pāpa-bhakṣaṇa","Bhava Śiva bhāvanā","dahana"],"quick_summary":"After confirming auspicious fire-signs, perform a sin-devouring homa to burn the disciple’s defilements, maintaining Śiva-as-Bhava identification to empower the rite."}
Concept: Bhāvanā (identity-contemplation) transforms ritual into inner alchemy: impurity is ‘burned’ by awareness aligned with Bhava (Śiva).
Application: During corrective rites, keep a steady contemplative identity (devatā-bhāva) rather than mere mechanical offering; treat prāyaścitta as both ethical reset and attentional training.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prayashchitta & Shishya-shuddhi Homa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru conducts a purification homa for a disciple; offerings rise into a clean flame while dark ‘impurity’ is symbolically consumed; the guru’s aura shows Bhava-Śiva identification (third eye/Śiva marks subtly).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciple beside homa-kuṇḍa, stylized dark smoke-forms of ‘kalmaṣa’ being swallowed by bright flame, Śiva/Bhava aura behind the guru, bold sacred reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold flame and halo, guru with rudrākṣa and tripuṇḍra, disciple in humble posture, impurity depicted as dark motifs dissolving into gold-lit fire, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clear narrative: guru offering with ladle, disciple seated behind, caption-like space for ‘pāpa-bhakṣaṇa homa’, gentle colors, emphasis on ritual steps and calm faces","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed fire-pit, subtle symbolic dark wisps entering flame, refined textiles, guru’s Śiva-identification shown via discreet iconographic cues"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ityevamādibhiścihnair = iti evam-ādibhiḥ cihnaiḥ; dahedvā = dahet vā; bhavātmanā = bhava-ātmanā
Related Themes: Agni Purana 82.6–82.7 (fire fitness and omens); Agni Purana 82 (initiation/pūjā procedural flow)
FAQs
It prescribes a purificatory homa for a disciple: oblations are offered with specified ritual ‘signs/indications’ (cihna), and the disciple’s kalmaṣa (defilement) is ritually burned or ‘devoured’ through a pāpabhakṣaṇa-homa.
Beyond mythology, it records actionable liturgical procedure—initiation-linked purification through fire offerings and sectarian contemplative framing (Bhava/Śiva)—illustrating the text’s coverage of practical ritual technology (pujā-vidhi, dīkṣā, prāyaścitta).
The rite is aimed at karmic cleansing: sin/impurity (pāpa, kalmaṣa) is symbolically consumed by fire, while the practitioner’s Bhava-consciousness frames the act as transformative purification rather than mere external performance.