Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
अस्त्राभिलब्धयालभ्य दीप्तया सर्वविग्रहं निरुद्धाक्षाणि पाणिभ्यां प्राणान् संयम्य वारिणि
astrābhilabdhayālabhya dīptayā sarvavigrahaṃ niruddhākṣāṇi pāṇibhyāṃ prāṇān saṃyamya vāriṇi
അസ്ത്രമന്ത്രസിദ്ധിയാൽ ലഭിച്ച ദീപ്തശക്തിയാൽ സർവ്വദേഹവും സ്പർശിച്ച്, ഇരുകൈകളാൽ കണ്ണുകൾ അടയ്ക്കണം; പ്രാണങ്ങളെ സംയമിച്ച് ജലത്തിൽ (അവഗാഹനം ചെയ്യണം)।
Lord Agni (in dialogue to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Protective immersion practice: empower the body with astra-mantra ‘blaze’, close eyes, regulate breath, and enter water for purification and safeguarding.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-prayoga in Snāna: blazing protection, prāṇa-saṃyama, immersion","lookup_keywords":["astra-prayoga","prāṇa-saṃyama","nimajjana","rakṣā","bhūta-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"A mantra-protective bathing step: invoke astra power as a protective blaze over the body, close the senses, restrain breath, and immerse to complete purification."}
Alamkara Type: Dīpaka/Tejas imagery (metaphoric ‘blazing’ pervasion)
Concept: Integration of mantra (śabda), visualization (bhāvanā), sense-withdrawal, and breath-restraint to seal purification and protection.
Application: Before immersion, steady the mind: close eyes, regulate breath briefly, and perform the protective mantra to avoid distraction and maintain ritual focus.
Khanda Section: Agneya-vidya (Mantra–Astra Prayoga / Protective Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: River/Pond
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner, body imagined as suffused with a blazing protective force from the astra-mantra, closes the eyes with both hands, restrains breath, and immerses into water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: figure at water’s edge with a stylized flame-aura outlining the body (tejas), hands covering eyes, poised to step into river, rhythmic wave patterns, sacred minimalism","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotee at a lotus-filled tank, golden aura/flame motif around the body indicating astra power, ornate border and gold work, moment just before immersion, ritual solemnity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional depiction of posture—hands closing eyes, chest lifted for brief prāṇa-saṃyama, then immersion; subtle flame outline, clear stepwise composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: riverside bathing scene with delicate flame-like halo around the figure, hands over eyes, attendants holding cloth, detailed water surface and landscape, refined naturalism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्त्राभिलब्धयालभ्य→अस्त्र-अभिलब्धया आलभ्य. सर्वविग्रहं→सर्व-विग्रहम्. निरुद्धाक्षाणि→निरुद्ध-अक्षाणि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-śodhana and rakṣā-vidhi passages (astra usage); Agni Purana snāna-vidhi continuation beyond 72.4 for subsequent purification steps
FAQs
It gives a practical astra-prayoga step: after attaining the astra (weapon-mantra) and arousing its ‘blazing’ potency through the body, the practitioner performs eye-closure, prāṇa-saṃyama (breath restraint), and water-immersion as a protective/purificatory act.
It blends multiple domains—mantra-śāstra (astra-siddhi), yogic technique (breath restraint), and ritual purification (water immersion)—showing how the Agni Purana compiles actionable procedures across spiritual technology, protection rites, and disciplined practice.
The sequence emphasizes self-control and purification: restraining the senses (eyes) and prāṇa before entering water symbolizes removing ritual impurity and stabilizing the energized mantra-force so it functions without harm and with dharmic restraint.