Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 11
Saṃskāra-kathana
Account of the Saṃskāras
अकार्पण्यञ्चास्पृहा च मूलेन जुहुयाच्छतम् सौरशाक्तेयविष्ण्वीशदीक्षास्त्वेते समाः स्मृताः
akārpaṇyañcāspṛhā ca mūlena juhuyācchatam sauraśākteyaviṣṇvīśadīkṣāstvete samāḥ smṛtāḥ
અકાર્પણ્ય (કંજુષી વિનાનું મન) અને અસ್ಪૃહા (લાલસા વિનાનું ભાવ) ધારણ કરીને, મૂલમંત્રથી સો આહુતિઓ આપવી જોઈએ. સૌર, શાક્ત, શાક્તેય/કૌમાર, વૈષ્ણવ અને ઈશ—આ દીક્ષાઓ પરંપરાએ સમાન ગણાય છે.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instruction mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Guidance for dīkṣā and homa-based mantra-sādhana: cultivate inner dispositions (non-miserliness, non-craving) and perform a fixed-count oblation (100) with the mūla-mantra; recognizes equivalence of several initiation streams.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūla-mantra-homa (100 āhutis) with akārpaṇya & aspṛhā; dīkṣā-sāmya","lookup_keywords":["mūla-mantra","homa","śata-āhuti","dīkṣā","aspṛhā"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a counted homa (100 oblations) using the root-mantra, grounded in ethical prerequisites (generosity and non-craving), and states parity among Saura, Śākta/Kaumāra, Vaiṣṇava, and Īśa initiations."}
Concept: Inner renunciation (non-miserliness, non-craving) is prerequisite to effective mantra-homa; sectarian dīkṣās are treated as equal in standing when properly performed.
Application: Before homa: practice dāna and restraint; during homa: keep a strict count (100) and steady attention to the mūla-mantra; after: maintain non-attachment to results.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dīkṣā & Homa-vidhi / Mantra-sādhana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sādhaka seated before a square homa-kuṇḍa offering 100 āhutis while holding a japa-mālā; above, symbolic emblems of Saura, Śākta/Kaumāra, Vaiṣṇava, and Īśa traditions indicating equivalence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, homa-kuṇḍa with bright agni, sādhaka in white, ladle and offering bowl, mala in hand, subtle icon-emblems (sun-disc, śakti yantra, śaṅkha-cakra, triśūla) in the background, deep temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa scene with rich gold on flames and vessels, sādhaka with serene face, four small medallions showing Saura/Śākta/ Vaiṣṇava/Īśa symbols, ornate gold borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: labeled homa-kuṇḍa, āhuti count marks (100), mūla-mantra scroll, calm palette, emphasis on procedure and posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed brass vessels, fire rendered delicately, attendant keeping count on beads, marginal symbols for the five dīkṣā streams, refined linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अकार्पण्यञ्चास्पृहा = अकार्पण्यम् + च + अस्पृहा; जुहुयाच्छतम् = जुहुयात् + शतम्; दीक्षास्त्वेते = दीक्षाः + तु + एते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi, dīkṣā-lakṣaṇa, and homa-vidhi passages in related chapters; Agni Purana: mantra-nirdeśa sections where mūla-mantra and japa counts are discussed
FAQs
It prescribes a practical dīkṣā-linked homa: perform 100 fire-offerings using the mūla-mantra, while maintaining the qualifying inner disciplines of akārpaṇya (non-miserliness) and aspṛhā (non-craving).
It catalogues multiple initiation streams (Saura, Śākta/Śākteya, Vaiṣṇava, Īśa) and frames them as equivalent, reflecting the Agni Purana’s compendious, cross-sectarian mapping of ritual systems.
The verse links external rite (100 mūla-mantra oblations) with inner purification (non-greed and non-craving), implying that effective initiation and merit depend on both correct ritual performance and ethical-mental restraint.