Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
ॐ हों क्षीमिति सन्धानं राग्श् च शुद्धविद्या च नियतिः कलया सह कालो मया तथाविद्या तत्त्वानामिति सप्तकं
oṃ hoṃ kṣīmiti sandhānaṃ rāgś ca śuddhavidyā ca niyatiḥ kalayā saha kālo mayā tathāvidyā tattvānāmiti saptakaṃ
« Oṃ, hoṃ, kṣīm » : tels sont les désignateurs mantriques du principe de connexion (sandhāna). Viennent aussi Rāga et Śuddhavidyā ; Niyati avec Kalā ; Kāla ; Māyā ; et de même Avidyā : tel est l’ensemble des sept tattva (principes).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use of bīja/mantric designations and a structured list of tattvas (notably the seven ‘coverings’/principles) for mantra-vidyā purification and doctrinal mapping in dīkṣā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Seven Tattvas with Sandhāna Mantras (Oṃ hoṃ kṣīm)","lookup_keywords":["sandhāna-mantra","oṃ hoṃ kṣīm","śuddhavidyā","māyā","avidyā"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies mantric markers for ‘sandhāna’ and enumerates a sevenfold tattva set (including rāga, śuddhavidyā, niyati-kalā, kāla, māyā, avidyā) used as a doctrinal scaffold in purification rites."}
Concept: Bondage-structure via tattvas (kāla, niyati, rāga, etc.) and their mantric handling in purification—moving from limitation (avidyā/māyā) toward clarified knowledge (śuddhavidyā)
Application: In dīkṣā/śodhana, contemplate and ritually ‘process’ these tattvas in order, using the given bīja markers as cues for internal alignment and mantra-nyāsa.
Khanda Section: Tantra-Tattva (Shaiva Siddhanta/Mantra-vidya: enumeration of tattvas and their bija-mantras)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A metaphysical chart-like depiction: seven labeled tattva spheres/lotuses connected in sequence, with the bījas ‘oṃ hoṃ kṣīm’ inscribed as the sandhāna key.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized lotus-nodes for tattvas, connecting lines like a yantra, bīja syllables in traditional script, deep reds/ochres, sacred geometry feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed yantra diagram with seven lotus medallions, bīja syllables highlighted in gold, framed by temple arch motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional yantra: seven tattva-lotuses labeled (rāga, śuddhavidyā, niyati, kalā, kāla, māyā, avidyā), bīja ‘oṃ hoṃ kṣīm’ at top as connector","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript-illustration style diagram on a folio, fine borders, delicate calligraphy for bījas and tattva names, scholar pointing to the sequence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"mystical","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kṣīmiti = kṣīm iti; rāgś ca = rāgaḥ ca (visarga before c- becomes ś in saṃhitā). tattvānāmiti = tattvānām iti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Vidyā-śodhana; tattva lists and bīja usage continue)
FAQs
It gives a tantric-technical mapping of specific bīja-syllables (oṃ, hoṃ, kṣīm) and enumerates a septad of tattvas—rāga, śuddhavidyā, niyati, kalā, kāla, māyā, and avidyā—used for mantra-japa, nyāsa, and doctrinal classification of limiting principles.
Beyond narrative and ritual, it catalogues philosophical categories (tattvas) and their mantric correlations, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of Shaiva-tantric metaphysics alongside other sciences—one hallmark of its encyclopedic scope.
By identifying the limiting/veiling principles (māyā and its associated tattvas) and their mantric handles, the verse supports contemplative discrimination and disciplined mantra-practice aimed at purification of cognition and loosening attachment (rāga), which is traditionally linked with spiritual uplift.