Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 29
Adhyāya 88 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनं
Teaching of the Nirvāṇa-Initiation
ॐ हौं हः अस्त्राय हूं फट् प्रक्षाल्य स्रुक्स्रुवौ शिष्यं संस्नाप्याचम्य च स्वयं योजनिकास्थानमात्मानं शस्त्रमन्त्रेण ताडयेत्
oṃ hauṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ prakṣālya sruksruvau śiṣyaṃ saṃsnāpyācamya ca svayaṃ yojanikāsthānamātmānaṃ śastramantreṇa tāḍayet
En récitant : «Oṃ hauṃ haḥ—à l’Astra (projectile protecteur) : hūṃ phaṭ», après avoir lavé la louche et la cuillère verseuse (srūk–srūva), avoir baigné le disciple, puis accompli lui-même l’ācamana, il doit frapper/toucher rituellement son propre corps au point yojanikā au moyen du mantra de l’arme.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual purification and protection in dīkṣā/nyāsa: wash ladle and spoon, bathe disciple, perform ācāmana, then apply/strike (tāḍana) the body at the yojanikā position with the astra-mantra for sealing boundaries.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-mantra prākṣālana, śiṣya-snāna, ācāmana, and yojanikā-tāḍana","lookup_keywords":["oṃ hauṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ","prākṣālana","ācāmana","yojanikā-sthāna","tāḍana"],"quick_summary":"After cleansing implements and bathing the disciple, the officiant performs ācāmana and then ritually ‘strikes/touches’ the body at the yojanikā point with the astra-mantra to establish protection and ritual boundaries."}
Weapon Type: Astra (protective missile mantra used for tāḍana)
Concept: Purity (external washing, bathing, ācāmana) precedes empowerment; protective mantra establishes a controlled sacred body-space through tāḍana/nyāsa.
Application: Sequence matters: cleanse tools, cleanse recipient, self-purify, then apply protective sealing at designated body-points to prevent ritual leakage and maintain focus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Astra-mantra, Diksha and ritual purification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual implements (sruk and sruva) being washed; the disciple bathed; the officiant performs ācāmana; then touches/strikes a specific body-point (yojanikā) while reciting the astra-mantra, forming a protective aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential vignette panels: washing ladle/spoon, bathing disciple, ācāmana gesture, then astra-tāḍana with a radiant outline around the body-point; earthy palette and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, single composite scene with gold aura around the disciple, priest performing ācāmana and astra-tāḍana, ritual vessels highlighted with gold leaf, sacred syllables in ornate frames.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: clearly depict sruk/sruva washing, disciple bathing, ācāmana, and the exact yojanikā touch-point; fine linework and calm colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual room with copper vessels, washing of implements, disciple seated after bath, priest touching a marked point on the torso with a ritual gesture, subtle luminous aura, intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संस्नाप्याचम्य = संस्नाप्य + आचम्य; स्रुक्स्रुवौ = स्रुक् + स्रुवौ (द्वन्द्व); मन्त्रपदानि (ॐ, हौं, हूं, फट्, हः) अव्ययानि/मन्त्राक्षराणि।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 88 (Mantra-nyāsa and astra-mantra applications around dīkṣā)
FAQs
It teaches a precise Astra/Śastra-mantra prayoga: cleansing the sruk and sruva, ritually bathing the initiand, performing ācamana, and then applying (tapping/striking) the weapon-mantra at a designated yojanikā-point for protection and consecration.
Beyond myth, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantra syllables, purification sequences, implements (sruk/sruva), and protective applications—showing the Agni Purana as a practical manual of temple/initiatory procedure alongside its broader teachings.
The sequence purifies practitioner and disciple, establishes ritual fitness (adhikāra), and invokes protective force (astra/śastra) to remove obstacles and impurity before further rites, supporting merit (puṇya) and safeguarding the ceremony.