Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
रलवाः शषसाः वर्णाः षड् विद्यायां प्रकीर्तिताः पदानि प्रणवादीनि एकविंशतिसङ्ख्यया
ralavāḥ śaṣasāḥ varṇāḥ ṣaḍ vidyāyāṃ prakīrtitāḥ padāni praṇavādīni ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyayā
Dans le système des six vidyā (ṣaḍ-vidyā), sont proclamées les lettres commençant par ra, la, va ainsi que celles du groupe śa–ṣa–sa. Et les termes sacrés (padāni) commençant par le praṇava (Oṃ) sont dits au nombre de vingt et un.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) speaking to Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Phonetic/letter-group enumeration and sacred-word counting used for mantra composition, recitation accuracy, and śāstric classification of learning units.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-groups (ra-la-va; śa-ṣa-sa) and 21 Praṇavādi Padāni","lookup_keywords":["varṇa","ra la va","śa ṣa sa","praṇava","ekaviṃśati"],"quick_summary":"The verse classifies specific consonant groups and states a count of twenty-one sacred terms beginning with Oṃ, supporting systematic phonetic/mantric organization within a sixfold learning scheme."}
Concept: Śabda as a disciplined system: correct classification and enumeration of sounds/words is prerequisite to mantra and learned discourse
Application: For reciters and ritualists: maintain exact phoneme groups and fixed counts to prevent mantra corruption and to preserve textual integrity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Varna–Pada–Pranava enumeration; phonetics/grammar-oriented instruction)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scholastic scene: a teacher points to a phonetic chart showing ra-la-va and śa-ṣa-sa groups; beside it a list of 21 praṇavādi sacred terms beginning with Oṃ on a manuscript board.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and students with palm-leaf manuscripts, phonetic chart stylized as a grid, ‘oṃ’ prominently at top, earthy tones and temple-school ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript stand with gold accents, ‘Oṃ’ in gold, phonetic groups displayed like medallions, scholarly devotional mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, highly legible instructional chart: columns for ra-la-va and śa-ṣa-sa, and a numbered list 1–21 starting with praṇava, fine linework and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like manuscript illustration, calligraphic Sanskrit on folio, teacher with pointer, students seated, detailed borders and writing implements"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaḍ vidyāyām = ṣaṭ vidyāyām (final ḍ before v- in saṃhitā); praṇavādīni = praṇava-ādīni; ekaviṃśatisaṅkhyayā = ekaviṃśati-saṅkhyayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Vidyā-śodhana; mantra/phoneme organization context)
FAQs
It gives a technical enumeration used in śikṣā/grammar and mantra-study: specific varṇa-groups (ra–la–va and śa–ṣa–sa) and a counted set of sacred padāni beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ), totaling twenty-one.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves schematic lists from linguistic and mantra traditions—showing it functions as a compendium that includes phonetic/grammatical catalogues and standardized sacred vocabularies.
By systematizing praṇava-led sacred terms and their phonemic bases, it supports correct recitation (śuddha-ucchāraṇa), which is traditionally held to preserve mantra efficacy and thereby enhance ritual merit (puṇya).