Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
चित्रभानुं शिवं कालं महाशक्तिसमन्वितम् इडाद्यं परतोद्वृत्य सदेवः सविकारणम्
citrabhānuṃ śivaṃ kālaṃ mahāśaktisamanvitam iḍādyaṃ paratodvṛtya sadevaḥ savikāraṇam
उसे चित्रभानु, शिव और काल—महाशक्ति से युक्त—रूप में ध्येय/उच्चार्य मानना चाहिए। इडा आदि से आरम्भ करके, परात्पर स्रोत से उसे उद्भूत कर, वह सदेव (देवों सहित) और सविकारण (कारण-आधार सहित) है।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dhyāna/uccāra orientation for a Śaiva mantra-kalpa: visualizing the deity as Citrabhānu–Śiva–Kāla with Mahāśakti, and performing syllabic/energetic ascent beginning with iḍā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Citrabhānu-Śiva-Kāla Dhyāna with Mahāśakti; Iḍā-Ādi Utkramana","lookup_keywords":["citrabhānu","kāla","mahāśakti","iḍā","mantra-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Gives a contemplative identification of the mantra-deity as luminous Citrabhānu, Śiva, and Time empowered by Mahāśakti, with a practice cue to begin from iḍā and raise the current from the transcendent source, encompassing gods and causal manifestation."}
Concept: Śiva as Kāla (Time) and as luminous consciousness, inseparable from Mahāśakti; manifestation proceeds from a causal basis yet is encompassed by the divine.
Application: In meditation, hold the identity of mantra-deity as time-transcending yet time-governing; use channel-based ascent (iḍā-ādi) to stabilize attention and integrate śakti into japa.
Khanda Section: Shiva-Tantra / Mantra-vidhi (Ishana-kalpa orientation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating sādhaka visualizes a radiant Śiva as Citrabhānu with a time-wheel/sun disc, Mahāśakti united at his side; subtle nāḍī diagram shows iḍā beginning and an upward ascent from a transcendent point above the crown.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, luminous Śiva-Kāla with sun/time-wheel halo, Śakti as inseparable energy, swirling prāṇa lines entering from iḍā side, deep reds and blacks with bright gold-ochre highlights, sacred geometry backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Citrabhānu Śiva with brilliant gold-leaf radiance, Kāla symbols (chakra, sun disc), Mahāśakti adorned, attendants (sadeva) around, ornate arch and heavy gold detailing, meditating devotee below.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic devotional image: deity visualization on top, below a clear nāḍī sketch highlighting iḍā start and upward raising, fine linework and soft colors, instructional labels in margins.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ascetic in meditation within a pavilion; above him a translucent radiant Śiva-Kāla vision with sun disc; a thin painted line traces iḍā ascent; delicate floral borders and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: महाशक्तिसमन्वितम् = महा + शक्ति + समन्वितम्; इडाद्यं = इडा + आद्यम्; परतोद्वृत्य = परतः + उद्वृत्य; सदेवः = स + देवः; सविकारणम् = स + विकारणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (mantra-dhyāna section for Gaurī/Śaiva-Śākta worship); Agni Purana 324 (tattva and operational mantra-rites background)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna/mantra-style identification of the deity—Śiva as Kāla united with Mahāśakti—and hints at a syllabic/energetic raising (uddhāra) beginning with iḍā, used for focused contemplation and mantra-prayoga.
Alongside law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves tantric-ritual and metaphysical instruction—here, a compact Shiva–Shakti theology paired with practical mantra/dhyāna technique.
Meditating on Śiva as transcendent Time united with supreme Power is presented as a purifying alignment with the causal source of manifestation, supporting inner steadiness and spiritual merit through disciplined contemplation.