Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 174 — प्रायश्चित्तानि
Expiations
देवमानुषविघ्नघ्नं पूजाकाले तथैव च मन्त्रद्रव्यादिव्यत्यासे मूलं जप्त्वा पुनर्जपेत्
devamānuṣavighnaghnaṃ pūjākāle tathaiva ca mantradravyādivyatyāse mūlaṃ japtvā punarjapet
പൂജാകാലത്ത് ദേവ-മാനുഷ വിഘ്നങ്ങളെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും, മന്ത്രം, ദ്രവ്യം മുതലായവയിൽ കലക്കമോ മാറിപ്പോകലോ സംഭവിച്ചാൽ, ആദ്യം മൂലമന്ത്രം ജപിച്ച് പിന്നെ വീണ്ടും (വിധിപൂർവ്വം) ജപിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Error-correction during worship: when mantra or offering substances get interchanged/mixed up, reset by reciting the mūla-mantra first and then repeating japa correctly to neutralize procedural faults.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Reset Protocol for Mantra/Dravya Mix-up (Mūla-mantra then Re-japa)","lookup_keywords":["mūla-mantra","mantra-vyatyāsa","dravya-vyatyāsa","pūjā-kāla","punar-japa"],"quick_summary":"If there is confusion or interchange of mantra and offerings during pūjā, begin again from the root-mantra and repeat the japa in proper order to restore correctness and efficacy."}
Concept: Mantra-sādhana depends on order (krama) and clarity (avipralambha); when disturbed, one re-centers on the mūla-mantra as the source-code of the rite.
Application: In any ritual confusion, pause, re-establish attention with the root-mantra, then redo the sequence rather than improvising mid-error.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"During pūjā, the priest notices offerings and mantras have been mixed up; he pauses, closes eyes, recites the mūla-mantra with a mālā, then restarts the japa and offering sequence in correct order while warding off obstacles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in focused posture with mālā, subtle depiction of ‘vighna’ as shadowy forms dispersing, orderly arrangement of offerings restored, sanctum lamp and bold color blocks","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central deity with gold halo, priest holding mālā and palm-leaf/ritual manual, offerings neatly reordered, gold foil highlights on vessels, sense of restored symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: before/after arrangement of offerings, priest reciting mūla-mantra then repeating japa, fine linework and calm palette emphasizing procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed tabletop of ritual items slightly disordered then corrected, priest counting beads, attendants reordering bowls, delicate architectural shrine backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवमानुषविघ्नघ्नं = देव-मानुष-विघ्न-घ्नम् (तत्पुरुष-समाहार); पूजाकाले = पूजा-काले; तथैव = तथा + एव; मन्त्रद्रव्यादिव्यत्यासे = मन्त्र-द्रव्य-आदि-व्यत्यासे; पुनर्जपेत् = पुनः + जपेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-lakṣaṇa and japa-vidhi discussions (contextual); Agni Purana Puja-vidhi: doṣa-prāyaścitta and repetition rules
FAQs
It gives a practical remedy for ritual errors: if mantra recitation or offering materials are interchanged/confused during pūjā, one should recite the mūla-mantra and then repeat the japa correctly to neutralize obstacles.
Beyond theology, it preserves procedural ritual technology—error-handling rules for mantra-prayoga and pūjā logistics—showing the Agni Purana as a manual of applied religious practice alongside its many other disciplines.
Repeating the root-mantra after a mistake functions as a purification and obstacle-removal measure, restoring ritual correctness (śuddhi) so the intended merit and efficacy of worship are not diminished.