Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Abhiṣeka-Ādi-Kathana
Consecratory Bathing and Related Rites
मध्ये शिवं समुद्रञ्च शिवमन्त्रं च विन्यसेत् यागालयान् दिगीशस्य रचिते स्नानमण्डपे
madhye śivaṃ samudrañca śivamantraṃ ca vinyaset yāgālayān digīśasya racite snānamaṇḍape
ദിഗീശന്റെ യാഗാലയമായി നിർമ്മിച്ച സ്നാനമണ്ഡപത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ശിവനെയും സമുദ്രത്തെയും ശിവമന്ത്രത്തെയും ന്യാസമായി സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Ritual layout for a Śaiva yāga: central nyāsa of Śiva, samudra-tattva, and Śiva-mantra within a constructed snāna-maṇḍapa/yāgālaya aligned to dikpāla/digīśa concept.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snāna-maṇḍapa nyāsa: central placement of Śiva, Samudra, and Śiva-mantra","lookup_keywords":["snāna-maṇḍapa","yāgālaya","nyāsa","samudra-tattva","digīśa"],"quick_summary":"In the bathing pavilion built as the sacrificial enclosure, establish the ritual center by placing Śiva, the oceanic principle (samudra), and the Śiva-mantra through nyāsa. The center functions as the stabilizing bindu of the rite."}
Concept: Mantra and deity are installed as a living center (bindu) within a ritually constructed space; elements (samudra) are integrated as tattvas.
Application: When preparing a snāna-maṇḍapa for abhiṣeka/yāga, treat the center as the locus for Śiva-mantra nyāsa and stabilize the rite with elemental placements.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Śaiva-yāga and Snāna-maṇḍapa (Ritual layout and mantra-nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A constructed snāna-maṇḍapa functioning as yāgālaya: central altar with Śiva symbol, surrounding ritual boundary, priest performing nyāsa; a symbolic ocean-circle (samudra) marked at the center with mantra diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple pavilion with carved pillars, central bindu marked on floor maṇḍala, Śiva-liṅga or Śiva emblem at center, blue circular samudra motif, priest doing nyāsa, lamps and conch vessels for bathing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate pavilion interior, central Śiva installation with gold accents, samudra motif as blue lotus-like ring, mantra diagram in the center, rich textiles, ritual vessels for abhiṣeka","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic yet elegant: plan-view of snāna-maṇḍapa/yāgālaya with labeled center (Śiva, samudra, mantra), priest shown in side vignette performing nyāsa, clean instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural pavilion with geometric floor pattern, central ritual focus with blue ‘ocean’ medallion, priest and assistants, fine detailing of vessels and incense, bordered composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समुद्रञ्च = समुद्रम् + च; शिवमन्त्रं = शिव + मन्त्रम्; यागालयान् = याग + आलयान्; स्नानमण्डपे = स्नान + मण्डपे. 'रचिते स्नानमण्डपे' taken as locative phrase; 'रचिते' understood as सप्तमी एकवचन agreeing in sense with the locative setting.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 90 (Pūjā-vidhi: maṇḍapa and nyāsa instructions)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa and spatial installation: placing Śiva, the Ocean principle (samudra), and the Śiva-mantra at the centre of a purpose-built snāna-maṇḍapa within the yāgālaya.
It blends ritual technology (nyāsa and mantra), sacred architecture (mandapa/yāgālaya planning), and cosmological symbolism (samudra as a consecrated element), showing how the text systematizes worship, space-design, and meaning together.
Correct central installation aligns the ritual space with Śiva’s presence and cosmic order, supporting purification through the snāna rite and increasing the efficacy (siddhi) of worship by proper placement and mantra-empowerment.