Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 37
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
ष्ठगमिति घ स्थिरासने इति ख , घ च शस्त्राणुञ्चेति ख , ग , छ च इमं यागमिति ङ शङ्खन्निवेदयेदिति ग खड्गन्निवेदयेदिति घ , ङ च कुर्युर् निजकुम्भेष्विति ख , घ , छ , ज च जपेयुर्जापिनः सङ्ख्यं मन्त्रमन्ये तु संहितां पठेयुर्ब्राह्मणाः शान्तिं स्वशाखावेदपारगाः
ṣṭhagamiti gha sthirāsane iti kha , gha ca śastrāṇuñceti kha , ga , cha ca imaṃ yāgamiti ṅa śaṅkhannivedayediti ga khaḍgannivedayediti gha , ṅa ca kuryur nijakumbheṣviti kha , gha , cha , ja ca japeyurjāpinaḥ saṅkhyaṃ mantramanye tu saṃhitāṃ paṭheyurbrāhmaṇāḥ śāntiṃ svaśākhāvedapāragāḥ
«(Certaines recensions lisent :) “ṣṭhagam” ; (d’autres :) “sur un siège stable” ; (d’autres :) “après avoir oint/préparé les armes” ; (d’autres :) “ce sacrifice/ce rite”. (Certaines lisent :) “il doit offrir la conque (śaṅkha)” ; (d’autres :) “il doit offrir l’épée (khaḍga)”. (Certaines lisent :) “qu’ils le fassent dans leurs propres kumbhas”. Les pratiquants du japa doivent répéter le mantra selon le nombre prescrit ; mais d’autres brahmanes, experts du Veda de leur propre śākhā, doivent réciter la Saṃhitā pour la śānti (pacification).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, in the typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Documents variant readings across recensions and prescribes roles: japa specialists repeat mantras by count, while śākhā-versed Brahmins recite their Saṃhitā for śānti; also notes optional offerings/presentations (śaṅkha/khadga) and weapon-anointing phrasing.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Recensional Variants and Role-Division in Śānti-kalpa (Japa vs Saṃhitā-pāṭha)","lookup_keywords":["pāṭhabheda","japa-saṅkhyā","saṃhitā-pāṭha","śānti-kalpa","śaṅkha khadga"],"quick_summary":"The text records multiple readings and clarifies performance: japa is done to a fixed count by designated jāpins, while Veda-śākhā specialists recite their Saṃhitā to effect pacification; some traditions include presenting conch or sword and/or anointing weapons."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (phonetic clustering in variant snippets)
Weapon Type: Sword (khadga); weapons generally (śastra)
Concept: Authority is preserved through śākhā fidelity and regulated division of ritual labor (japa vs Saṃhitā).
Application: In śānti rites, assign japa-counting to mantra specialists and Saṃhitā recitation to śākhā-competent Brahmins; document and choose among pāṭhabhedas consistently within a tradition.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Śānti-kalpa (Ritual procedure, appeasement rites, mantra-japa and Vedic recitation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual assembly where one group performs counted japa with rosaries, while another group of Brahmins recites Vedic Saṃhitā; nearby, a conch and a sword are ceremonially presented, and weapons are ritually anointed in some variants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two clusters of priests—one with japa-mālā, one chanting from palm leaves—conch and sword placed on a cloth, oil/anointing vessel near weapons, serene śānti ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold detailing on conch and sword, priests in rows, one group in meditative japa posture, another in chant posture, ornate ritual vessels, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional grouping (japa vs Saṃhitā), neatly arranged ritual items (śaṅkha, khadga, kumbha), fine lines and soft colors emphasizing procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly scene with Brahmins debating readings, some chanting, some counting beads, detailed rendering of conch and sword, manuscript folios indicating variant recensions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śaṅkhannivedayet = śaṅkham + nivedayet; khaḍgannivedayet = khaḍgam + nivedayet; japeyurjāpinaḥ = japeyuḥ + jāpinaḥ; paṭheyurbrāhmaṇāḥ = paṭheyuḥ + brāhmaṇāḥ. Sigla (kha/ga/gha/cha/ja/ṅa) treated as indeclinable recension markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (śānti-kalpa, japa, kumbha/kuṇḍa procedures)
FAQs
It specifies role-division in a śānti-yāga: designated japa-performers complete the mantra-count, while other śākhā-competent Brahmins recite the Vedic Saṃhitā; it also notes variant readings about posture, weapon-preparation, and offering items (conch/sword) and use of personal kumbhas.
It preserves practical liturgical details—variant ritual rubrics, priestly duties (japa vs. Saṃhitā-pāṭha), and implement/oblation handling—showing the text’s compendium-style coverage of procedural ritual technology alongside doctrine.
Correctly executed japa and Vedic recitation are framed as instruments of śānti—pacification of obstacles and restoration of auspicious order—thereby supporting purification, merit (puṇya), and communal well-being through properly authorized sound (mantra/śruti).