Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
हृदस्त्रसम्पुटं सूत्रं विधायाभ्यर्चयेद्धृदा सूत्रं शिवेन साङ्गेन कृत्वा सम्पातशोधितं
hṛdastrasampuṭaṃ sūtraṃ vidhāyābhyarcayeddhṛdā sūtraṃ śivena sāṅgena kṛtvā sampātaśodhitaṃ
Après avoir préparé le cordon rituel, enveloppé et protégé par le mantra Hṛd-astra, on doit l’adorer avec le mantra Hṛd (du cœur). Ensuite, ayant conféré au cordon la puissance du mantra de Śiva avec ses membres auxiliaires (aṅga), et l’ayant purifié par le sampāta (aspersion/oblations mantrées), il devient ainsi nettoyé.
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Preparation and empowerment of a protective ritual thread: enclosure by Hṛd-astra, worship with Hṛd-mantra, Śiva-mantra with aṅgas, and purification via sampāta to render it ritually ‘cleansed’ and efficacious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rakṣā-sūtra Saṃskāra: Hṛd-astra Enclosure, Hṛd-pūjā, Śiva-aṅga Nyāsa, Sampāta-śodhana","lookup_keywords":["hṛd-astra","rakṣā-sūtra","śiva-mantra","aṅga","sampāta-śodhana"],"quick_summary":"The verse outlines a stepwise consecration of a thread: protect it with Hṛd-astra, worship it with the heart-mantra, empower it with Śiva-mantra plus aṅgas, and purify by sampāta so it becomes fit for protective use."}
Concept: Saṃskāra transforms a material object into a carrier of mantra-śakti; purity is achieved through layered rites (rakṣā, pūjā, aṅga, śodhana).
Application: For any protective talisman/cord, follow a multi-step empowerment: protection-mantra, worship, full mantra with ancillaries, then final purification/charging (sampāta).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-tantra and protective-rite procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest consecrates a thread: encircling it with protective mantra, offering flowers/incense, performing aṅga-mantras of Śiva, and sprinkling/charging it through sampāta purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up ritual tableau: thread on a small tray, priest’s hands in nyāsa mudrā, stylized mantra flames around (astra protection), Śiva symbolism subtle (trident motif), rich traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, thread and ritual tray highlighted with gold, priest before a Śiva altar, ornate vessels for sprinkling, luminous sacred atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional scene: thread, labeled ‘hṛd-astra’, ‘hṛd’, ‘śiva-aṅga’, ‘sampāta’; priest performing each action in sequence panels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine depiction of thread, flowers, water-sprinkling, priest reciting, delicate calligraphy band for mantras, refined interior setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused-ritual","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vidhāyābhyarcayet = vidhāya + abhyarcayet; abhyarcayeddhṛdā = abhyarcayet + hṛdā; sāṅgena = sa + aṅgena.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83 (rakṣā-bandhana, mantra-aṅga/nyāsa, sampāta practices)
FAQs
It teaches a step-by-step consecration of a protective ritual thread: seal it with the Hṛd-astra mantra, worship it with the Hṛd-mantra, empower it with the Śiva-mantra along with its aṅga (ancillary) formulas, and purify it through sampāta-śodhana.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical liturgical technology—mantra application, ancillary (aṅga) usage, and purification protocols—showing the Agni Purana as a manual of ritual operations alongside its many other disciplines.
The instruction frames purification and protection as mantra-driven sanctification: the thread is made ritually ‘clean’ and spiritually efficacious, supporting auspiciousness (śiva) and safeguarding the practitioner through consecrated protective means.