Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
अनन्तयोगपीठाय आवाह्याथ हृदब्जतः स्फटिकाभं चतुर्वाहुं फलशूलधरं शिवम्
anantayogapīṭhāya āvāhyātha hṛdabjataḥ sphaṭikābhaṃ caturvāhuṃ phalaśūladharaṃ śivam
ແລ້ວເມື່ອໄດ້ອັນເຊີນ (āvāhana) ພຣະອົງລົງສູ່ບັນລັງແຫ່ງໂຍຄະອັນບໍ່ມີທີ່ສິ້ນສຸດ, ຈຶ່ງຄວນນຶກເຫັນພຣະສິວະປາກົດຈາກດອກບົວໃນຫົວໃຈ—ຂາວໃສດັ່ງຜົນຶກ, ມີ 4 ແຂນ, ຖືຜົນໄມ້ (ປະທານພອນ) ແລະ ຕຣິສູລ (ສາມງ່າມ).
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Avahana and dhyana of Shiva: install the deity on the yogapitha and draw the form from the heart-lotus for puja, japa, and internal worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-āvāhana from Hṛd-abja onto Ananta-yoga-pīṭha","lookup_keywords":["shiva avahana","hridabja","ananta-yoga-pitha","chaturbahu shiva","trishula"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Śiva onto the ‘seat of endless yoga’ and visualize him emerging from the heart-lotus: crystal-white, four-armed, holding boon-bestowing fruit and the trident—establishing a stable icon for worship."}
Concept: Deity is internalized: the heart-lotus is the locus of manifestation; external puja mirrors inner yoga.
Application: Before offerings, stabilize breath and attention at the heart; then perform avahana as a deliberate ‘bringing forth’ of the form into the ritual seat.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-mantra, dhyana and avahana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin-priest seated before a ritual seat (pitha) with a yantra/altar; from his heart-lotus emanates a crystal-white four-armed Śiva holding a fruit and trident, descending to be installed on the pitha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva in pale crystal tones with four arms, trident prominent, fruit in another hand, heart-lotus motif glowing on the priest’s chest, strong outlines and temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Śiva with gold halo and embossed ornaments, trident rendered with gold work, fruit jewel-toned, pitha and altar richly decorated, deep blue/vermillion background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, elegant Śiva iconography with clear attributes, instructional depiction of avahana gesture, heart-lotus diagram subtly shown, soft colors and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined shrine interior, ascetic invoking, translucent crystal-white Śiva appearing from a lotus at the chest, intricate textiles and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: āvāhyātha → āvahya + atha; hṛdabjataḥ → hṛt-abjataḥ (hṛd + abja + tas).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (Shiva-mantra dhyana/avahana procedures)
FAQs
It gives a precise āvāhana–dhyāna instruction: invoke Śiva onto the Ananta-yoga seat and visualize Him emerging from the heart-lotus with defined iconographic markers (crystal-white, four arms, fruit and trident).
It preserves a compact, manual-like specification of deity-invocation and iconography—typical of the Agni Purana’s cataloging of practical ritual procedures alongside broader Purāṇic theology.
Centering the invocation in the heart-lotus internalizes worship, aiming at purification of mind and focused devotion, while correct āvāhana and dhyāna are traditionally held to make the rite efficacious and merit-bearing.