Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
ततः संशोध्य चात्मानं शिवहस्तं तथात्मनि विन्यस्य कुम्भगं प्रार्च्य इन्द्रादीनामनुक्रमात्
tataḥ saṃśodhya cātmānaṃ śivahastaṃ tathātmani vinyasya kumbhagaṃ prārcya indrādīnāmanukramāt
Ensuite, s’étant purifié, on doit accomplir le nyāsa en posant sur soi le « Śiva-hasta » (la “main de Śiva”) ; puis, après avoir honoré comme il se doit le vase d’eau rituel (kumbha/kalaśa), on doit adorer Indra et les autres divinités selon l’ordre prescrit.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Āgamic/Śaiva pūjā sequence: self-purification, nyāsa (Śiva-hasta), kalaśa worship, then devatā-krama worship beginning with Indra; used in consecrations and daily/occasional pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-hasta nyāsa and kalaśa worship with devatā-krama (Indraādi)","lookup_keywords":["śiva-hasta","nyāsa","kumbha","kalaśa-pūjā","indraādi"],"quick_summary":"After self-purification, perform Śiva-hasta nyāsa on the body, worship the ritual kalaśa, then worship Indra and other deities in the prescribed sequence."}
Concept: Devatā-āveśa is stabilized through śuddhi and nyāsa; the kalaśa becomes the locus for ordered cosmic invocation (indraādi-krama).
Application: In Śaiva pūjā, prioritize internal purification and nyāsa before external offerings; follow devatā-krama to avoid ritual omissions.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Śaiva/Āgamic ritual procedure; kalaśa-kumbha worship and nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva officiant purifies himself, performs Śiva-hasta nyāsa on his body, worships a decorated kalaśa, then offers respects to Indra and the attendant deities in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before a flower-garlanded kalaśa with mango leaves and coconut, hands in nyāsa gesture over chest, subtle depiction of Indra and dikpālas in registers, warm earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central gleaming kalaśa with gold embossing, Śiva’s symbolic hand blessing motif, Indra with vajra shown as small icon, heavy gold work on vessels and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa placement points on the body, kalaśa on a pedestal, sequential small panels for Indraādi worship, fine linework and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual interior with patterned carpets, ornate kalaśa, priest performing nyāsa, small cloud-borne Indra figure receiving worship, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चात्मानम् = च आत्मानम्; तथात्मनि = तथा आत्मनि; इन्द्रादीनामनुक्रमात् = इन्द्रादीनाम् अनुक्रमात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sections on nyāsa, mudrā, kalaśa-saṃskāra, and devatā-krama within Pūjā-vidhi
FAQs
It teaches a Śaiva pūjā sequence: self-purification (saṃśodhana), performing a Śiva-associated hand-imposition/gesture (śiva-hasta) as nyāsa on the body, worship of the sanctified kumbha (kalaśa), and then worship of Indra and other deities in prescribed order.
By preserving precise, practice-oriented ritual technology—purificatory acts, nyāsa, kalaśa worship, and deity sequencing—this chapter exemplifies the Agni Purana’s coverage of Āgamic/ritual manuals alongside its many other knowledge domains.
Purification and nyāsa sacralize the practitioner’s body as fit for worship, while ordered deity-worship (beginning with Indra and others) aligns the rite with cosmic hierarchy, supporting ritual correctness (vidhi) and the accrual of merit through properly performed pūjā.