Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Abhiṣeka-mantrāḥ
Consecration Mantras
ऋतवश् च तथा मासा पक्षा रात्र्यहनी तथा सन्ध्यातिथिमुहूर्ताच्च कालस्यावयवाकृतिः
ṛtavaś ca tathā māsā pakṣā rātryahanī tathā sandhyātithimuhūrtācca kālasyāvayavākṛtiḥ
ऋतु, मास, पक्ष, रात्रि और अहन्; तथा सन्ध्या, तिथि और मुहूर्त—ये सब काल की अवयव-रचना हैं।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pañcāṅga literacy and ritual scheduling: recognizing kāla’s components (ṛtu, māsa, pakṣa, ahorātra, sandhyā, tithi, muhūrta) for vrata observance, saṃskāras, and daily sandhyā practices.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kāla-avayava (Constituents of Time: ṛtu to muhūrta)","lookup_keywords":["Ṛtu","Māsa","Pakṣa","Tithi","Muhūrta"],"quick_summary":"Defines time as a structured set of nested units used in calendrical computation and dharmic scheduling, from seasons down to muhūrtas."}
Concept: Time is knowable through its operational parts; dharma is practiced by aligning action with these divisions.
Application: Practical dharma: choose proper tithi/muhūrta for rites; maintain sandhyā discipline; understand seasonal regimen (ṛtucaryā) in a broader cultural sense.
Khanda Section: Kala-nirupana (Jyotisha / Time-reckoning and calendrical divisions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic depiction of time units: six seasons around a wheel, months and fortnights as inner rings, day-night split, and small segments for sandhyā, tithi, and muhūrta.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, kāla-cakra with six ṛtus personified, inner rings for māsa and pakṣa, sun and moon for ahorātra, three sandhyā bands, bold traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted time wheel with personified seasons, sun-moon motifs, ornate border, Sanskrit labels for tithi and muhūrta segments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional chart-like wheel, fine lines and readable labels, small vignettes showing morning/noon/evening sandhyā worship","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar illustrating a calendrical wheel on paper, surrounding marginalia with seasonal scenes (rainy season, spring blossoms), delicate detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऋतवश्→ऋतवः; रात्र्यहनी→रात्रि+अहनी (द्वन्द्व, द्विवचन); मुहूर्ताच्च→मुहूर्तात्+च; कालस्यावयवाकृतिः→कालस्य+अवयवाकृतिः (अवयवाकृतिः=अवयव+आकृतिः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 219.12 (macro time units); Agni Purana: vrata/ācāra sections that depend on tithi/pakṣa/māsa (general)
FAQs
It enumerates the standard calendrical and ritual time-units—ṛtu, māsa, pakṣa, rātri/ahan, sandhyā, tithi, and muhūrta—used to time rites, vows, festivals, and astrological calculations.
By defining the basic framework of time-reckoning, it supports multiple applied domains covered by the text—ritual scheduling (pujā/vrata), calendrics (pañcāṅga logic), and Jyotiṣa-based decision-making—showing the Purāṇa’s cross-disciplinary scope.
It implies that correct timing (kāla) is a key purifier and merit-multiplier in dharmic practice: rites performed in the proper tithi, sandhyā, and muhūrta are traditionally held to yield more effective and auspicious results.