Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
दाहं तदक्षराभावं प्रायश्चित्तमथोदितं रुद्राण्यावाहनं पूजा रूपगन्धसमर्पणं
dāhaṃ tadakṣarābhāvaṃ prāyaścittamathoditaṃ rudrāṇyāvāhanaṃ pūjā rūpagandhasamarpaṇaṃ
Ensuite est prescrit le rite expiatoire : accomplir un dāha (brûlement/homa) en pénitence pour cette omission de syllabes ; puis l’invocation (āvāhana) de Rudrāṇī, son culte, et l’offrande de la forme (image/manifestation) et du parfum.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Atonement for mantra-syllable omission via burning/homa, followed by Rudrāṇī āvāhana and pūjā with offerings including form (rūpa) and fragrance (gandha).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Akṣara-abhāva Prāyaścitta and Rudrāṇī Āvāhana-Pūjā","lookup_keywords":["akṣara-abhāva","prāyaścitta","dāha/homa","Rudrāṇī","rūpa-gandha"],"quick_summary":"If syllables are omitted in mantra/rite, perform an expiatory burning (homa) and then invoke and worship Rudrāṇī, offering a formed representation and fragrance."}
Concept: Mantra integrity matters; errors (akṣara-abhāva) require prāyaścitta to restore ritual correctness, followed by proper deity-invocation and upacāra offerings.
Application: When a mantra is mis-recited or incomplete, do corrective homa and re-establish the deity’s presence through āvāhana and complete pūjā with standard offerings (including gandha).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Prāyaścitta (Ritual Atonements and Worship Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small homa performed to atone for omitted syllables; afterward, Rudrāṇī is invoked before an icon/yantra, with offerings of fragrant paste and flowers, emphasizing restoration of ritual completeness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kunda in foreground, then a shrine panel with Rudrāṇī seated, bold stylized features, devotee offering sandal paste (gandha) and a prepared rūpa (icon/yantra), warm lamp-lit temple ambiance.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Rudrāṇī with gold halo and ornate jewelry, gold-leaf detailing on the icon frame, devotee offering fragrant paste and flowers, small fire altar at side, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential instructional scene: left—homa for akṣara-abhāva; right—āvāhana and pūjā of Rudrāṇī with labeled upacāras (rūpa, gandha), clean composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor pūjā, delicate fire altar smoke, goddess icon on a pedestal, attendants with perfume and paste, fine textile patterns and architectural niches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदक्षराभावं → तत्-अक्षर-अभावम्; प्रायश्चित्तमथोदितं → प्रायश्चित्तम् अथ उदितम्; रुद्राण्यावाहनं → रुद्राणी-आवाहनम्; रूपगन्धसमर्पणं → रूप-गन्ध-समर्पणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (prāyaścitta rules; āvāhana/pūjā sequence)
FAQs
It prescribes a corrective ritual for mantra faults—specifically, atonement for omitted syllables—followed by Rudrāṇī’s invocation (āvāhana), worship (pūjā), and offerings such as fragrance (gandha) and a formal/iconic representation (rūpa).
It documents a practical, procedural rule from ritual science: how to repair errors in mantra-performance and restore ritual efficacy through defined prāyaścitta and deity-specific worship steps.
It frames mantra-omission as a ritual impurity that can be neutralized through expiation and proper devotion, aiming to re-establish correctness (śuddhi) and preserve the intended religious merit of the rite.