Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 53
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
कुर्यात् पञ्चाहुतीर्दत्वा पाशाङ्कुशनिवृत्तये ॐ हः अस्त्राय हूं फट् प्रायश्चित्तं ततः कुर्यादस्त्राहुतिभिरष्टभिः
kuryāt pañcāhutīrdatvā pāśāṅkuśanivṛttaye oṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ prāyaścittaṃ tataḥ kuryādastrāhutibhiraṣṭabhiḥ
Afin d’écarter l’obstacle nommé « lasso et aiguillon », on offrira cinq oblations. Ensuite, on accomplira le rite expiatoire au moyen du mantra de l’arme—« Oṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ »—en offrant huit oblations avec l’astra-mantra.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, as the primary Agni Purāṇa narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ritual obstacle-removal (vighna-nivṛtti) in homa by prescribing exact counts of oblations and an astra-mantra for prāyaścitta.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāśāṅkuśa-nivṛtti and Astra-mantra Prāyaścitta (5+8 āhutis)","lookup_keywords":["pāśāṅkuśa","vighna-nivṛtti","astra-mantra","prāyaścitta","āhuti-saṅkhyā"],"quick_summary":"Offer five oblations to remove the ‘noose-and-goad’ impediment, then perform expiation with eight oblations using the astra-mantra “oṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ”."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric ‘weapon’ formula)
Concept: Mantra and homa-count (saṅkhyā) as operative means to remove ritual impediments and restore purity/fitness.
Application: When a pūjā/homa is obstructed, apply prescribed āhuti counts and astra-mantra as corrective rite rather than abandoning the ritual.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-prayoga and Prāyaścitta for ritual obstacles)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa-kunda with a priest offering measured oblations; the astra-mantra written on a palm-leaf or hovering as syllables, symbolically cutting a ‘noose and goad’ obstruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette; a vaidika-tantrika priest at a square homa-kunda, five then eight flames/offerings indicated; stylized pāśa (noose) and aṅkuśa (goad) dissolving; mantra syllables ‘oṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ’ in decorative script.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf; central homa altar, priest in white, radiant fire; gold-highlighted mantra band; symbolic noose and goad broken; ornate borders and temple lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework; instructional depiction of counting āhutis (5 and 8) with small tally marks; clear homa implements (sruk, sruva), mantra text panel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual pavilion; priest offering ghee; attendants counting oblations; calligraphic cartouche with astra-mantra; allegorical noose and goad fading like smoke."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चाहुतीर्दत्वा → पञ्च आहुतिः दत्वा; पाशाङ्कुशनिवृत्तये → पाश-अङ्कुश-निवृत्तये; कुर्यादस्त्राहुतिभिरष्टभिः → कुर्यात् अस्त्र-आहुतिभिः अष्टभिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (pūjā-vidhi: vighna-śānti, prāyaścitta, nyāsa)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific homa sequence: five oblations to remove the ‘pāśāṅkuśa’ obstacle, followed by an eight-oblations prāyaścitta using the astra-mantra “oṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ” for protective purification.
Beyond narrative theology, it records precise operational ritual technology—counts of āhutis, named impediments, and a standardized protective mantra—showing the text’s coverage of applied liturgy and expiatory procedure alongside broader dharma and vidyās.
It frames mantra-led oblations as a corrective act: removing binding impediments and restoring ritual purity, thereby mitigating karmic fault arising from obstacles, errors, or inauspicious influences during worship.