Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 29
Adhyāya 88 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनं
Teaching of the Nirvāṇa-Initiation
ॐ हौं हः अस्त्राय हूं फट् प्रक्षाल्य स्रुक्स्रुवौ शिष्यं संस्नाप्याचम्य च स्वयं योजनिकास्थानमात्मानं शस्त्रमन्त्रेण ताडयेत्
oṃ hauṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ prakṣālya sruksruvau śiṣyaṃ saṃsnāpyācamya ca svayaṃ yojanikāsthānamātmānaṃ śastramantreṇa tāḍayet
“ഓം ഹൗം ഹഃ അസ്ത്രായ ഹൂം ഫട്” എന്നു ജപിച്ച് സ്രുക്‑സ്രുവങ്ങൾ കഴുകി, ശിഷ്യനെ സ്നാനിപ്പിച്ച്, സ്വയം ആചമനം ചെയ്ത്, യോജനികാ‑സ്ഥാനത്ത് തന്റെ ദേഹത്തെ ശസ്ത്രമന്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് താടിച്ച് (സംസ്കരിച്ച്) വേണം.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual purification and protection in dīkṣā/nyāsa: wash ladle and spoon, bathe disciple, perform ācāmana, then apply/strike (tāḍana) the body at the yojanikā position with the astra-mantra for sealing boundaries.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Astra-mantra prākṣālana, śiṣya-snāna, ācāmana, and yojanikā-tāḍana","lookup_keywords":["oṃ hauṃ haḥ astrāya hūṃ phaṭ","prākṣālana","ācāmana","yojanikā-sthāna","tāḍana"],"quick_summary":"After cleansing implements and bathing the disciple, the officiant performs ācāmana and then ritually ‘strikes/touches’ the body at the yojanikā point with the astra-mantra to establish protection and ritual boundaries."}
Weapon Type: Astra (protective missile mantra used for tāḍana)
Concept: Purity (external washing, bathing, ācāmana) precedes empowerment; protective mantra establishes a controlled sacred body-space through tāḍana/nyāsa.
Application: Sequence matters: cleanse tools, cleanse recipient, self-purify, then apply protective sealing at designated body-points to prevent ritual leakage and maintain focus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Astra-mantra, Diksha and ritual purification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual implements (sruk and sruva) being washed; the disciple bathed; the officiant performs ācāmana; then touches/strikes a specific body-point (yojanikā) while reciting the astra-mantra, forming a protective aura.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential vignette panels: washing ladle/spoon, bathing disciple, ācāmana gesture, then astra-tāḍana with a radiant outline around the body-point; earthy palette and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, single composite scene with gold aura around the disciple, priest performing ācāmana and astra-tāḍana, ritual vessels highlighted with gold leaf, sacred syllables in ornate frames.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: clearly depict sruk/sruva washing, disciple bathing, ācāmana, and the exact yojanikā touch-point; fine linework and calm colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual room with copper vessels, washing of implements, disciple seated after bath, priest touching a marked point on the torso with a ritual gesture, subtle luminous aura, intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संस्नाप्याचम्य = संस्नाप्य + आचम्य; स्रुक्स्रुवौ = स्रुक् + स्रुवौ (द्वन्द्व); मन्त्रपदानि (ॐ, हौं, हूं, फट्, हः) अव्ययानि/मन्त्राक्षराणि।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 88 (Mantra-nyāsa and astra-mantra applications around dīkṣā)
FAQs
It teaches a precise Astra/Śastra-mantra prayoga: cleansing the sruk and sruva, ritually bathing the initiand, performing ācamana, and then applying (tapping/striking) the weapon-mantra at a designated yojanikā-point for protection and consecration.
Beyond myth, it preserves operational ritual technology—mantra syllables, purification sequences, implements (sruk/sruva), and protective applications—showing the Agni Purana as a practical manual of temple/initiatory procedure alongside its broader teachings.
The sequence purifies practitioner and disciple, establishes ritual fitness (adhikāra), and invokes protective force (astra/śastra) to remove obstacles and impurity before further rites, supporting merit (puṇya) and safeguarding the ceremony.