Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 84
Chapter 81 — समयदीक्षाविधानम्
Procedure for Samaya Initiation
सवस्त्रमासनं दद्यात् यथावर्णं निवेदयेत् संहारमुद्रयात्मानं मूर्त्या तस्य हृदम्बुजे
savastramāsanaṃ dadyāt yathāvarṇaṃ nivedayet saṃhāramudrayātmānaṃ mūrtyā tasya hṛdambuje
വസ്ത്രസഹിതം ആസനം അർപ്പിച്ച്, നിശ്ചിത വർണ്ണ/നിറക്രമപ്രകാരം നിവേദനം ചെയ്യണം। തുടർന്ന് സംഹാരമുദ്രയാൽ സ്വയം—ദേഹരൂപസഹിതം—അവന്റെ ഹൃദയകമലത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the usual Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Pūjā procedure: offering āsana with cloth, presenting upacāras in prescribed color/order, and performing saṃhāra-mudrā for internalization/mergence of the worshipper into the deity’s heart-lotus (hṛd-ambuja).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āsana-dāna, varṇa-krama upacāra, and Saṃhāra-mudrā (hṛdaya-laya) in Śaiva pūjā","lookup_keywords":["āsana-dāna","saṃhāra-mudrā","hṛd-ambuja","varṇa-krama","upacāra"],"quick_summary":"Offer the seat with cloth and present offerings in the prescribed order; then use Saṃhāra-mudrā to internalize oneself into the deity’s heart-lotus as a contemplative culmination of worship."}
Concept: External upacāra culminates in internal laya: the worshipper’s identity is gathered (saṃhāra) into the deity’s heart-center, emphasizing non-separation in contemplative worship.
Application: After completing offerings, perform a closing mudrā/meditation that draws attention inward to the heart-lotus, stabilizing devotion as concentration (dhāraṇā).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Mantra ritual procedure and mudrā practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist offers a cloth-covered seat before Śiva, arranges offerings by prescribed colors, then forms Saṃhāra-mudrā while visualizing Śiva seated in a radiant lotus within the heart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before Śiva shrine offering āsana with white cloth, rows of color-coded offerings, then a second vignette showing glowing heart-lotus with Śiva inside, deep reds and ochres, lamp-lit sanctum","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate Śiva on pedestal, gold-leaf halo, priest presenting cloth and āsana, offerings in distinct colors, inset medallion showing heart-lotus with miniature Śiva, rich embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: stepwise panels—āsana with cloth, offerings by varṇa order, hand gesture diagram of Saṃhāra-mudrā, subtle depiction of heart-lotus visualization","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual chamber with textiles and vessels, priest forming mudrā, translucent overlay showing heart-lotus with seated Śiva, fine floral borders and precise objects"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sa-vastram + āsanam → savastramāsanam; saṃhāra-mudrayā + ātmānam → saṃhāramudrayātmānam; hṛd + ambuje → hṛdambuje.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 81 (mudrā and nyāsa-related pūjā steps); Agni Purana mantra/mudrā descriptions in pūjā-vidhi sections
FAQs
It prescribes a concrete pūjā sequence: offering a cloth-covered seat (āsana) and making offerings in the ritually specified order, followed by using Saṁhāra-mudrā to internalize/merge the practitioner’s self into the deity’s heart-lotus visualization.
It shows the Agni Purāṇa’s practical ritual manual dimension—detailing upacāras, color/varṇa-based ritual protocol, and mudrā-based internalization—alongside its broader coverage of many sciences and arts.
The instruction culminates in self-withdrawal and inner union with the deity (hṛd-ambuja), aiming at purification of identity, concentration, and the devotional/meditative completion (saṁhāra) of the worship act.