Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 28
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
भास्त्रवर्धन्यां पूजयेदस्थिरासने इति घ , ज च वर्णवस्त्रमिति ग स्वर्णवस्त्रमिति ख , ज , च कालं मालाकुलं रक्तमिति ख , ग , ङ , छ च कालं मालाकुलं, व्यक्तमिति ग ज्वालामालाकुलं सक्तमिति घ महिषस्थं दण्डहस्तं यमं कालानलं स्मरेत् रक्तनेत्रं स्वरारूढं खड्गहस्तञ्च नैरृतं
bhāstravardhanyāṃ pūjayedasthirāsane iti gha , ja ca varṇavastramiti ga svarṇavastramiti kha , ja , ca kālaṃ mālākulaṃ raktamiti kha , ga , ṅa , cha ca kālaṃ mālākulaṃ, vyaktamiti ga jvālāmālākulaṃ saktamiti gha mahiṣasthaṃ daṇḍahastaṃ yamaṃ kālānalaṃ smaret raktanetraṃ svarārūḍhaṃ khaḍgahastañca nairṛtaṃ
On doit le vénérer dans la bhāstravardhanī (dispositif/récipient qui attise le feu, tel un soufflet), assis sur un siège instable (selon certaines recensions). D’autres leçons disent : vêtu d’un habit de couleur varṇa ou d’un habit d’or. Qu’on médite Yama comme Kāla : paré d’une mālā, rouge de teinte (ou : clairement manifesté), ceint d’une guirlande de flammes, monté sur un buffle, tenant le daṇḍa (bâton), comme kālānala, le Feu du Temps. Et qu’on médite aussi Nairṛta : aux yeux rouges, monté sur un cheval, tenant une épée.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic ritual instructions, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Ritual worship and dhyana of Yama (as Kala/Kalanala) and Nairrita with variant readings; guides correct visualization, placement, and offering context (including bhāstravardhanī setting).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yama as Kāla/Kālānala and Nairṛta Dhyana (with recension variants)","lookup_keywords":["Yama-dhyana","Kalanala","Mahisha-vahana","Danda-hasta","Nairrita-khadga"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies dhyana-lakshanas for Yama and Nairṛta and notes textual variants (seat/garment/flame-garland descriptors), helping a ritualist choose a consistent iconographic reading for worship."}
Weapon Type: Staff (danda), Sword (khadga)
Concept: Yama embodies niyama and karmaphala (law and consequence) as Kāla; Nairṛta embodies destructive/liminal power that must be ritually contained and honored.
Application: In rites, acknowledge time/death/liminality as controlled powers—worship prevents their disruptive manifestation and aligns practitioner with dharmic order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra: Dikpala- & Yamadi-devata-smaraṇa in ritual worship
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two fierce guardians: Yama as fiery Time-Fire on a buffalo holding a staff, flame garland around; nearby Nairrita with red eyes on a horse holding a sword; ritual implements and a bellows-like fire-enhancing vessel indicated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Yama dark-red with flame aureole on buffalo, bold staff; Nairrita red-eyed on horse with sword, strong outlines, ritual fire elements at bottom.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Yama with gold flame halo and embossed ornaments, buffalo richly caparisoned; Nairrita with sword gleaming in gold, both framed by arch motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear iconographic rendering with attention to implements (danda, khadga), subtle flames, small depiction of bhāstravardhanī near the ritual space.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: dramatic scene with smoky flames, Yama on buffalo and Nairrita on horse, fine detailing of weapons and textiles, subdued ominous palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूजयेदस्थिरासने → पूजयेत् अस्थिरासने. वर्णवस्त्रमिति → वर्णवस्त्रम् इति; स्वर्णवस्त्रमिति → स्वर्णवस्त्रम् इति; रक्तमिति → रक्तम् इति; व्यक्तमिति → व्यक्तम् इति; सक्तमिति → सक्तम् इति. खड्गहस्तञ्च → खड्गहस्तम् च (म् + च → ञ्च). Verse contains multiple पाठभेद-सूचकाक्षराणि (घ/ज/ग/ख/ङ/छ) treated as indeclinable textual markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 96: dikpala/yamadi smarana sequence; kalasha and avarana worship context
FAQs
It teaches dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization markers) for ritual worship—how to meditate on Yama as Kāla/Kālānala (buffalo-mounted, staff-bearing, garlanded/flame-wreathed) and on Nairṛta (red-eyed, horse-mounted, sword-bearing), including variant prescriptions for seat and garments.
It preserves practical ritual technology: iconographic specifications, dhyāna-forms, and manuscript variants used by different recensions—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a compendium of applied worship manuals (pūjā-vidhi) alongside theology.
Correct dhyāna and worship of directional/disciplinary deities like Yama and Nairṛta is traditionally held to stabilize rites, remove obstacles, and align the practitioner with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma), thereby supporting purification and protective merit in ritual practice.