Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
पित्रोरावहनं कृत्वा हृदये ताडयेच्छिशुं प्रविश्य पूर्वमन्त्रेण तदात्मनि नियोजयेत्
pitrorāvahanaṃ kṛtvā hṛdaye tāḍayecchiśuṃ praviśya pūrvamantreṇa tadātmani niyojayet
Après avoir accompli l’invocation des deux parents (père et mère), on doit frapper/taper l’enfant dans la région du cœur. Puis, en entrant (c’est-à-dire en s’identifiant rituellement à la présence invoquée) au moyen du mantra précédent, on doit installer cela dans le Soi même de l’enfant.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Pitṛ-āvāhana and protective/saṃskāra-style nyāsa on a child: invoke parents/ancestors, touch the heart-region, enter via prior mantra (pūrva-mantra), and install the invoked presence into the child’s self for blessing, continuity, and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pitṛ-āvāhana with hṛdaya-tāḍana and mantra-praveśa/nyāsa into the child","lookup_keywords":["pitṛ-āvāhana","hṛdaya-tāḍana","pūrva-mantra","praveśa","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a sequence: invoke the two ancestors, touch/tap the child’s heart, then through the preceding mantra perform ritual ‘entry’ and install the invoked presence into the child’s inner self."}
Concept: Pitṛ-sambandha (ancestral continuity) joined with mantra-nyāsa: lineage blessings are ritually internalized in the child.
Application: As a dhārmic saṃskāra element, perform with reverence and clarity: invoke with correct names/gotra if used, gentle heart-touch (non-harmful), then mantra-led identification and installation—aimed at protection and samskāric strengthening.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Antyeshti/Pitri-kriya and mantra-nyasa procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual scene where a priest invokes father and mother ancestors, then gently taps the child’s heart while reciting a mantra; subtle ancestral forms appear as protective silhouettes entering and settling within the child’s chest-lotus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest performing pitṛ-āvāhana, child seated, heart-lotus motif glowing, faint ancestral figures in traditional style, warm earthy palette and temple ornament borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial blessing of a child, gold-leaf accents on heart-lotus and ritual vessels, ancestral presence as subtle halos behind, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear stepwise depiction: āvāhana, hṛdaya-tāḍana, mantra-praveśa, nyāsa; delicate lines, calm domestic/temple setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate family ritual with priest and child, translucent ancestral figures, detailed textiles and architecture, refined smoke and light effects"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pitrorāvahanaṃ → pitroḥ āvahanam; tāḍayecchiśuṃ → tāḍayet śiśum; pūrvamantreṇa → pūrva-mantreṇa; tadātmani → tad-ātmani.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Pūjā-vidhi / antyeṣṭi-pitṛ-kriyā and nyāsa portion)
FAQs
It teaches a pitṛ-āvāhana followed by a nyāsa-like application: ritually tapping the child’s heart and using the prior mantra to ‘install’ the invoked ancestral presence into the child’s inner self.
It preserves precise, procedural ritual technology—invocation (āvāhana), bodily ritual action (heart-tapping), and mantra-application (nyāsa)—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into practical liturgy and samskāra methods.
By invoking and ritually establishing the parents/ancestors in the child, the rite emphasizes lineage continuity, ancestral satisfaction (pitṛ-tarpaṇa/bhakti), and sanctification of the child through mantra-guided purification and blessing.