Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
पूर्ववत् धृत्वेति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः इं शिवाय इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः वचोगुह्याय इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सद्योजाताय मूर्तये इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अथ निधाय सर्वाधिपतय इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ॐ रुद्राणां भुवनानाञ्च स्वरूपमथ कश्यपे प्रथमो वामदेवः स्यात्ततः सर्वभवोद्भवः
pūrvavat dhṛtveti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ iṃ śivāya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vacoguhyāya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sadyojātāya mūrtaye iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ atha nidhāya sarvādhipataya iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ oṃ rudrāṇāṃ bhuvanānāñca svarūpamatha kaśyape prathamo vāmadevaḥ syāttataḥ sarvabhavodbhavaḥ
«Comme auparavant, après l’avoir placé»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué; «(dire) iṃ śivāya»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué; «(dire) vaco-guhyāya»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué; «(dire) sadyojātāya mūrtaye»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué; et «puis, après l’avoir déposé, (dire) sarvādhipataye»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué. Maintenant, ô Kaśyapa, je vais énoncer la forme véritable des Rudra et des mondes: le premier est Vāmadeva; de lui procède l’origine de toute existence.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing a sage (addressing Kaśyapa in this verse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pañcabrahma/Rudra-nyāsa and mantra-japa sequencing in Śaiva ritual: placing (nyāsa), uttering specific bījas/epithets, and contemplating Rudra-cosmology (Rudras as world-forms).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcabrahma-nyāsa: Sadyojāta–Vāmadeva mapping and mantra-deposition","lookup_keywords":["pañcabrahma","nyāsa","sadyojāta","vāmadeva","sarvādhipati"],"quick_summary":"Gives a manuscript-variant mantra sequence for nyāsa (iṃ śivāya, vaco-guhyāya, sadyojātāya mūrtaye, sarvādhipataye) and begins the doctrinal mapping of Rudra-forms to cosmic origination, starting with Vāmadeva."}
Concept: Rudra as both mantra and cosmos: deity-aspect (mūrti) corresponds to ontological emergence; correct nyāsa aligns practitioner-body with cosmic Rudra-forms.
Application: Use the stated mantra-deposition as a preparatory limb for japa/pūjā/meditation, contemplating Vāmadeva as a source-principle in the Rudra-cosmology.
Khanda Section: Shaiva Tantra & Mantra-vidhi (Rudra-pañcabrahma / Shiva-murti-nyasa context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva adept performs nyāsa, touching body-points while reciting bījas and epithets; behind him a visionary tableau of Rudra-forms and worlds emerging, with Vāmadeva highlighted as the first manifestation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, Śaiva yogin in profile doing aṅga-nyāsa, subtle haloed pañcabrahma Śiva forms in the background, stylized lotuses and cosmic layers, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated Śiva with pañcabrahma symbolism, gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala, a small devotee figure performing nyāsa at the bottom, rich jewel tones, embossed ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing stepwise nyāsa gestures (hand to head/heart/shoulders), labeled mantra snippets in Devanāgarī cartouches, soft pastel palette, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly sage Kaśyapa receiving instruction from a Śaiva teacher, delicate architecture and manuscript on a low desk, marginal cloud-bands depicting Rudra-forms and cosmic spheres, fine brush detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रुद्राणां भुवनानाञ्च = रुद्राणाम् + भुवनानाम् + च; स्वरूपमथ = स्वरूपम् + अथ; स्यात्ततः = स्यात् + ततः; सर्वभवोद्भवः = सर्वभव + उद्भवः (समास/सन्धि). Verse text contains editorial variant notes before ॐ; analysis focuses on the metrical shloka portion starting with ॐ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Śaiva mantra-vidhi context: pañcabrahma/nyāsa and nāma lists continuing)
FAQs
It preserves a mantra-vidhi/nyāsa sequence: specific seed-syllable and Śiva-epithet utterances (e.g., iṃ śivāya, sadyojātāya mūrtaye, sarvādhipataye) alongside actions like ‘placing’ and ‘depositing,’ typical of installation/nyāsa in Śaiva practice.
It combines practical ritual mechanics (mantra variants and procedural cues) with doctrinal cosmology/theology (the form of Rudras and worlds, Vāmadeva as a primary principle), showing how the Agni Purana integrates liturgy, textual criticism, and metaphysics.
Correct mantra utterance with proper placement/nyāsa is presented as aligning the practitioner with Śiva-Rudra’s cosmic form, supporting purification, protection, and successful consecration by harmonizing body, speech, and mind with the deity’s aspects.