Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Teaching of the One-Principle
Ekatattva) Initiation (एकतत्त्वदीक्षाकथनम्
आवाह्य शिवतत्त्वादि गर्भाधानादि पूर्ववत् मूलेन किन्तु कुर्वीत सर्वशुल्कसमर्पणं
āvāhya śivatattvādi garbhādhānādi pūrvavat mūlena kintu kurvīta sarvaśulkasamarpaṇaṃ
Après avoir invoqué (āvāhya) la Divinité en commençant par le Śiva-tattva, on doit accomplir les rites tels que le garbhādhāna et les autres, comme il a été décrit auparavant—mais en utilisant le mūla-mantra (mantra racine) ; et l’on doit aussi offrir à la Divinité tous les śulka, c’est-à-dire les frais et redevances rituels.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purāṇa’s ritual-vidhi narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Śaiva pūjā-krama: āvāhana from Śiva-tattva onward, performance of saṃskāra-like upacāras (garbhādhāna etc.) with the mūla-mantra, and formal offering of all ritual fees (śulka) to the deity to complete the rite without indebtedness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-pūjā: Āvāhana, garbhādhānādi-kriyā with mūla-mantra, and śulka-samarpaṇa","lookup_keywords":["āvāhana","mūla-mantra","garbhādhāna","śulka-samarpaṇa","śiva-tattva"],"quick_summary":"Invoke beginning from Śiva-tattva, repeat the previously taught sequence of rites using the root-mantra, and conclude by offering all ritual dues to Śiva as part of the worship’s completion."}
Concept: Kriyā (ritual action) becomes siddhi-yogya when mantra and proper nyāsa/āvāhana are followed and obligations (śulka) are surrendered to the deity.
Application: In temple or home pūjā, keep a clear accounting of dakṣiṇā/fees and ritually dedicate them to the iṣṭa-devatā to avoid doṣa of incomplete offering.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shaiva ritual and mantra procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Śaiva officiant invokes Śiva-tattva, performs sequential saṃskāra-like upacāras with japa of the mūla-mantra, and places ritual fees/dakṣiṇā before the liṅga as śulka-samarpaṇa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, inner sanctum with Śiva-liṅga, priest in white mundu performing āvāhana mudrā, mantra scroll motif, offerings and dakṣiṇā placed on a brass plate, warm earthy reds and ochres, stylized lamps","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva-liṅga with ornate arch, priest offering gold-highlighted dakṣiṇā plate, rich jewel tones, heavy gold leaf on vessels and ornaments, symmetrical ritual layout","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing steps: āvāhana, garbhādhānādi upacāras, mūla-mantra japa, śulka-samarpaṇa; fine line work, soft shading, labeled ritual items (kalaśa, pātra, dīpa)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly pavilion adapted as shrine, detailed textiles, priest presenting coins/fees to a small liṅga altar, attendants holding pūjā trays, delicate brushwork and architectural perspective"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi; compounds: śiva-tattva-ādi, garbhādhāna-ādi, sarva-śulka-samarpaṇam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 89 (ekatattva-dīkṣā context; pūrvavat-krama); Agni Purana 90 (abhiṣeka procedures continuing the ritual stream)
FAQs
It prescribes a Shaiva pūjā sequence: invoke Śiva-tattva and then carry out garbhādhāna and related ritual acts following the earlier method, specifically employing the mūla-mantra, and formally offering all prescribed fees (śulka) as part of the rite.
It blends mantra-śāstra and pūjā-protocol (āvāhana, mūla-mantra usage) with practical ritual administration (śulka/dakṣiṇā offerings), showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of both liturgical technique and the procedural economics of worship.
Performing the rites with the proper root-mantra and dedicating the associated fees as an offering is treated as completing the worship without omission, supporting ritual purity, right order (vidhi), and the accrual of merit through correct devotion and rightful giving.