Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 32
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
ततो ऽधिवासितं शिष्यं पाययेद्गव्यपञ्चकम् आचान्तं प्रोक्ष्ये नेत्रान्तैर् नेत्रे नेत्रेण बन्धयेत्
tato 'dhivāsitaṃ śiṣyaṃ pāyayedgavyapañcakam ācāntaṃ prokṣye netrāntair netre netreṇa bandhayet
तत्पश्चात् अधिवास में रखे हुए शिष्य को गव्यपञ्चक पिलाए। उसके आचमन करने पर जल से प्रोक्षण करके, नेत्रों के कोनों को स्पर्श करते हुए ‘नेत्र’ विधि/मन्त्र से प्रत्येक नेत्र का बन्धन (रक्षा-सील) करे।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vashistha, as the primary narrator of Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Diksha/abhisheka preliminaries: adhivasa, internal/external purification via gavyapanchaka, sprinkling, and netra-bandhana (ritual sealing of eyes) for protection and controlled initiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Diksha-shuddhi: Adhivasa, Gavyapanchaka-pana, Prokshana, Netra-bandhana","lookup_keywords":["adhivasa","gavyapanchaka","achamana","prokshana","netra-bandhana"],"quick_summary":"Keep the disciple in adhivasa, administer gavyapanchaka, perform achamana and sprinkling, then seal/protect the eyes with the netra-rite to prepare for initiation."}
Concept: Initiation requires graded purification and protective restraints (bandhana) before higher transmission.
Application: In diksha, control sensory gateways (eyes) symbolically to turn awareness inward and to mark entry into mantra-discipline under the guru.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Diksha & Abhisheka ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru in a mandapa gives the disciple gavyapanchaka, performs achamana and sprinkling, then touches the corners of the disciple’s eyes to ritually seal them with a protective netra-rite.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, initiation pavilion, guru with water vessel and darbha, disciple seated, ritual sprinkling shown as stylized droplets, close gesture at the eyes (netra-bandhana), warm reds/ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on kalasha and ritual implements, guru administering sacred mixture, disciple with folded hands, dramatic focus on the eye-sealing gesture, ornate mandapa pillars","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step scene: adhivasa setting, cup for gavyapanchaka, achamana spoon, prokshana, then netra-bandhana touch at eye corners; refined lines and instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate initiation scene, detailed vessels and textiles, guru’s hand near disciple’s eyes, attendants holding water pot and cloth, architectural pavilion with patterned floor"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ततोऽधिवासितम् = ततः + अधिवासितम्; पाययेद्गव्यपञ्चकम् = पाययेत् + गव्यपञ्चकम्; नेत्रान्तैर् = नेत्रान्तैः (विसर्ग-लोप)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (Diksha/Abhisheka preliminaries; shuddhi and bandhana rites)
FAQs
It teaches a diksha-stage purification sequence: adhivāsa (pre-initiation consecration), administration of gavyapañcaka, ācāmana, prokṣaṇa (sprinkling), and netra-bandhana (ritual sealing/protection of the eyes using a netra rite/mantra/gesture).
It preserves precise, step-by-step liturgical technology—materials (gavyapañcaka), actions (ācāmana/prokṣaṇa), and protective sub-rites (netra-bandhana)—showing the text’s coverage of practical temple/tantric procedure alongside other disciplines.
The sequence purifies the initiand and ritually safeguards the senses—especially sight—so the disciple becomes fit to receive mantras and worship procedures with reduced impurity and strengthened protective consecration.