Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
गुरुश् च तत्र हूङ्कारयुक्तं रेचकयोगतः चैतन्यं हंसवीजस्थं विश्लिष्येदायुधात्मना
guruś ca tatra hūṅkārayuktaṃ recakayogataḥ caitanyaṃ haṃsavījasthaṃ viśliṣyedāyudhātmanā
Et là, le Guru—par l’expiration (recaka) jointe à la syllabe « hūṃ »—doit séparer (dissoudre) la conscience vitale (caitanya) demeurant dans la graine Haṃsa, en assumant la forme d’une arme, c’est-à-dire une force intérieure tranchante, portée par le mantra.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Inner dīkṣā/śodhana using prāṇāyāma: with recaka joined to hūṃ, the guru performs a ‘cutting’ separation of caitanya lodged in the haṃsa-bīja—an internalized astrakriyā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Recaka + hūṃ: separating caitanya in the Haṃsa-bīja by inner ‘weapon-form’","lookup_keywords":["recaka","hūṃ","haṃsa-bīja","caitanya","antar-astra"],"quick_summary":"The verse teaches a pranayama-linked mantra operation: on exhalation with hūṃ, the practitioner (guru) performs a sharp inner severing/disentangling of vital consciousness from its seed-abode, as if wielding a weapon."}
Weapon Type: Inner weapon (āyudha-ātmanā) as mantra-force
Concept: Prāṇa and mantra are operationally one: breath (recaka) becomes the vehicle for mantra to transform consciousness at its subtle ‘seed’ level (haṃsa).
Application: Coordinate exhalation with a focused hūṃ to ‘cut through’ mental knots—used as a preparatory inner rite before installing/awakening mantra in oneself or disciple.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa (Tantric Mantra-sadhana and Pranayama-based inner ritual)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru in meditation performs controlled exhalation; the syllable hūṃ appears as a sharp luminous blade cutting a knot of light within a swan-shaped haṃsa symbol at the heart-channel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogic guru seated, stylized breath-stream leaving nostrils, ‘हूं’ depicted as a fiery glyph-blade, haṃsa (swan) motif in the chest-lotus, bold outlines and sacred reds.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central meditating guru with gold aura, embossed ‘हूं’ as radiant weapon, swan emblem over heart-lotus, rich gold work emphasizing the cutting light.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical yogic illustration: posture, breath arrows for recaka, ‘हूं’ placed along the outgoing breath, inner knot shown at heart with haṃsa symbol, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined yogi in a quiet chamber, delicate calligraphy ‘हूं’ along a faint breath ribbon, subtle inner illumination at the chest, meticulous detail and muted palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: guruś ca → गुरुः + च; haṃsavījasthaṃ → हंस-बीज-स्थम्; viśliṣyedāyudhātmanā → विश्लिष्येत् + आयुध-आत्मना.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.14 (cheda with phaṭ; śakti-sūtra; nāḍī implantation)
FAQs
It teaches a pranayama-linked mantra procedure: combine recaka (exhalation) with the hūṃ-syllable to effect an inner separation/dissolution of the caitanya located in the Haṃsa-bīja—an internalized, tantric-style operation performed under the Guru’s direction.
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana preserves practical sadhana-technology—mantra phonetics (hūṅkāra), yogic breath-control (recaka), and subtle-body concepts (caitanya in bīja)—showing its wide scope across ritual science, yoga, and tantra.
The instruction aims at purification and mastery of the inner life-force: breath and mantra are used as a disciplined means to cut through obscurations, enabling controlled withdrawal (laya) and heightened spiritual focus under proper guidance.