Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 49
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
ॐ यं भूतान्यापातयेहं आदानं कृत्वा चानेन प्रकृत्या योजनं शृणु ताडनेन विमोक्ष्यैवमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ॐ यं भूतानि पुंश्चाहो होममन्त्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि ततः पूर्णाहुतेर्मनुं
oṃ yaṃ bhūtānyāpātayehaṃ ādānaṃ kṛtvā cānena prakṛtyā yojanaṃ śṛṇu tāḍanena vimokṣyaivamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ oṃ yaṃ bhūtāni puṃścāho homamantraṃ pravakṣyāmi tataḥ pūrṇāhutermanuṃ
‘ഓം യം ഭൂതാന്യാപാതയേഹം’—ഇതുകൊണ്ട് ഇവിടെ ഭൂതങ്ങളെ വീഴ്ത്തി/അകറ്റണം. ആദാനം ചെയ്തു വിധിപ്രകാരം പ്രയോഗ-യോജന കേൾക്കുക; താഡനത്തോടെ അവയെ വിമോചിപ്പിക്കണം—എന്ന് പറയുന്നു. ചിഹ്നിത പാഠത്തിൽ: ‘ഓം യം ഭൂതാനി…’—ഹോമമന്ത്രം പ്രസ്താവിച്ച്, തുടർന്ന് പൂർണാഹുതിയുടെ മന്ത്രം.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Bhūta-śānti/exorcistic homa sequence: ādāna (taking up), application per prakriyā, tāḍana to release/expel; variant manuscript reading indicates homa-mantra then pūrṇāhuti-mantra.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhūta-āpātana with Ādāna–Tāḍana–Vimokṣa sequence","lookup_keywords":["bhūta-āpātana","ādāna","tāḍana","vimokṣa","homa-mantra"],"quick_summary":"The rite prescribes drawing out (ādāna) and then expelling/releasing (vimokṣa) intrusive bhūtas through mantra and tāḍana; a textual variant notes the order of homa-mantra and pūrṇāhuti-mantra."}
Concept: Ritual technology for removing subtle afflictions: controlled 'taking up' and 'release' governed by mantra and prescribed procedure (prakriyā).
Application: In protective rites, follow the sequence precisely—first extraction (ādāna), then expulsion (tāḍana/vimokṣa), then proceed to homa closure as per the tradition/reading.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Agneya-vidya (Homa-mantra and Bhuta-shanti / exorcistic rite)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A protective ritual where the officiant symbolically draws out a dark intrusive presence (ādāna) from the disciple and then drives it away with tāḍana, beside a blazing homa fire; marginal note indicates alternate recitation order.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic contrast—dark bhūta-form being pulled away, priest with commanding gesture, homa flames, protective circles; stylized marginal 'grantha' note motif to hint at variant reading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented altar, gold flames, priest and disciple; the expelled force shown as a small dark cloud outside a golden aura boundary; decorative script panel for the variant mantra note.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: stepwise layout—panel 1 ādāna (drawing gesture), panel 2 tāḍana (tapping), panel 3 vimokṣa (release outward), with homa altar constant; clear didactic style.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined interior with ritual implements, subtle depiction of a smoky entity being ushered out, attendants holding manuscripts; a small calligraphic marginalia cartouche."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भूतान्यापातय → भूतानि + आपातय; चानेन → च + अनेन; विमोक्ष्यैवम् → विमोक्ष्य + एवम्; पुंश्च → पुम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27 (bhūta-śuddhi, homa-prayoga, pūrṇāhuti mantras)
FAQs
It outlines a bhūta-nivāraṇa (spirit-warding) homa instruction using the bīja “yaṃ,” including the sequence of ādāna (ritual taking-up), yojana (proper application), tāḍana (ritual striking to expel), and the concluding purṇāhuti mantra.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical liturgical technology—specific mantras, procedural verbs, and rite-steps—showing the Agni Purana functioning as a manual for applied ritual (homa, pacification, and protective rites).
The rite aims at purification and protection: removing afflictive influences (bhūtas) from a place/person through mantra and fire-offering, culminating in purṇāhuti to seal the ritual merit and restore auspiciousness.