Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
अन्तर्बलिविधानञ्च मध्ये स्थण्डिलकुम्भयोः कृत्वा शिष्यप्रवेशाय लब्धानुज्ञो वहिर्व्रजेत्
antarbalividhānañca madhye sthaṇḍilakumbhayoḥ kṛtvā śiṣyapraveśāya labdhānujño vahirvrajet
Après avoir accompli l’offrande intérieure de bali prescrite dans l’espace entre l’autel (sthaṇḍila) et le vase consacré (kumbha), et après avoir obtenu l’autorisation pour l’admission du disciple, il doit alors sortir au dehors.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Dīkṣā/maṇḍala protocol: perform antar-bali between sthaṇḍila and kumbha, secure permission (anujñā) for disciple entry, then step outside—managing thresholds, consent, and controlled admission.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antar-bali and śiṣya-praveśa protocol between sthaṇḍila and kumbha","lookup_keywords":["antar-bali","śiṣya-praveśa","anujñā","sthaṇḍila","kumbha"],"quick_summary":"Offer the inner bali in the designated interspace between altar and consecrated pot; after receiving authorization for the disciple’s admission, the officiant exits to proceed with the next stage of initiation."}
Concept: Adhikāra is conferred through proper preliminaries and explicit permission; liminal actions (bali, anujñā, controlled movement) protect the sanctity of initiation.
Application: In dīkṣā settings, formalize consent/authorization and maintain spatial discipline; do not admit participants without completing protective preliminaries.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Diksha and Mandala Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a ritual enclosure, the officiant places an inner bali offering in the space between the altar-ground and the consecrated pot; after granting permission for the disciple’s entry, he steps outside to continue the rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, mandala floor with sthaṇḍila and decorated kumbha, priest placing bali offering in the middle space, disciple waiting at boundary line, solemn palette and clear spatial zones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented kumbha with gold work, bali offering plate centered, guru gesturing permission, disciple at threshold, gold accents emphasizing sacred boundary","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition labeling sthaṇḍila, kumbha, antar-bali zone, and entry path for śiṣya, gentle colors and precise lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural interior with defined floor patterns, guru placing offering between vessels, disciple at doorway, attendants observing, intricate border detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्तर्बलिविधानञ्च = अन्तर्बलिविधानम् च; स्थण्डिलकुम्भयोः = स्थण्डिल-कुम्भयोः (द्वन्द्वसमास, षष्ठी-द्विवचन); वहिर्व्रजेत् = वहिः व्रजेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: dīkṣā-vidhi, bali-vidhāna, maṇḍala-praveśa rules in adjacent Pūjā-vidhi sections
FAQs
It specifies a precise placement and sequence in initiation ritual: the ‘inner bali’ is to be performed in the intermediary space between the sthaṇḍila (altar) and kumbha (consecrated vessel) before authorizing the disciple’s formal entry.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana functions as a practical ritual handbook: it records operational details—where offerings are placed, when permissions are taken, and how participants move—typical of procedural śāstra-style instruction.
Correctly performing bali and receiving authorization before admitting the disciple safeguards ritual purity (śuddhi) and order (niyama), ensuring the initiation proceeds without doṣa (ritual fault) and yields its intended sanctifying merit.