Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 46
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
न्यूनादिदोषमोषाय मूलेनाष्टोत्तरं शतं विधाय स्थिण्डिलेशाय सर्वकर्मसमर्पणं
nyūnādidoṣamoṣāya mūlenāṣṭottaraṃ śataṃ vidhāya sthiṇḍileśāya sarvakarmasamarpaṇaṃ
Afin d’effacer les défauts tels que l’insuffisance dans le rite, on accomplira cent huit (108) oblations ou récitations avec le mūla-mantra ; puis l’on offrira et consacrera l’ensemble des actes du rite à Sthiṇḍileśa, le Seigneur présidant l’autel et le sol sacrificiel.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual atonement for procedural defects in pūjā/homa by prescribed japa/āhuti count and dedicatory offering (sarvakarma-samarpaṇa) to the altar-deity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prāyaścitta for Nyūnādi-doṣa via Mūla-mantra (108) and Sthiṇḍileśa Samarpaṇa","lookup_keywords":["nyūna-doṣa","mūla-mantra","aṣṭottara-śata","sthiṇḍileśa","sarvakarma-samarpaṇa"],"quick_summary":"When a rite is deficient or flawed, perform 108 recitations/oblations with the root-mantra and conclude by dedicating the entire action to Sthiṇḍileśa, the presiding lord of the ritual ground."}
Concept: Ritual integrity can be restored through mantra-count discipline and surrender of agency via samarpaṇa.
Application: Use prescribed counts (108) as a corrective measure; end with dedicatory offering to remove anxiety about doṣa and to seal the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prāyaścitta and Ritual Atonement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest at a ritual ground performs 108 offerings/recitations with the mūla-mantra, then symbolically dedicates all actions to Sthiṇḍileśa at the altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: sacred sthiṇḍila altar with fire, priest in white dhoti performing 108 āhutis, subtle depiction of Sthiṇḍileśa as guardian of the ritual ground, warm ochres and reds, stylized flames and lotus motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central altar with gold-leaf highlights, priest offering ladle to fire, inscription-like depiction of '108', Sthiṇḍileśa as a small crowned guardian deity near the vedi, rich jewel tones and ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition showing counting of 108 with mālā, sequence panels of āhuti and final samarpaṇa gesture, clean lines, muted palette, emphasis on ritual implements (sruk, ajya, kuśa).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly ritual pavilion with a small fire-altar, priest performing measured offerings, attendants holding mālā and vessels, fine architectural detailing, delicate flames, annotated margins indicating 'mūla-mantra 108'."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यूनादिदोषमोषाय = न्यून+आदि+दोष+मोषाय (समास); मूलेनाष्टोत्तरं = मूलेन + अष्टोत्तरम्; स्थिण्डिलेशाय = स्थिण्डिल+ईशाय; सर्वकर्मसमर्पणं = सर्व+कर्म+समर्पणम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puja-vidhi sections on prāyaścitta, mūla-mantra japa, and visarjana (near 83.47–83.49)
FAQs
It prescribes a prāyaścitta method: repeating/performing 108 counts with the mūla-mantra to neutralize deficiencies and then ritually dedicating the entire act to Sthiṇḍileśa, ensuring the rite is sealed as complete and acceptable.
Beyond theology, it gives procedural ritual engineering—how to correct execution errors (nyūna-doṣa) using standardized counts (108), mantra-technology (mūla-mantra), and karmic framing (samarpaṇa), reflecting the text’s practical manual-like scope.
By dedicating all actions to the presiding deity of the ritual ground, the performer relinquishes personal doership and redirects the rite’s fruit, which is held to purify faults and stabilize merit even when imperfections occurred.