Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 28
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
भास्त्रवर्धन्यां पूजयेदस्थिरासने इति घ , ज च वर्णवस्त्रमिति ग स्वर्णवस्त्रमिति ख , ज , च कालं मालाकुलं रक्तमिति ख , ग , ङ , छ च कालं मालाकुलं, व्यक्तमिति ग ज्वालामालाकुलं सक्तमिति घ महिषस्थं दण्डहस्तं यमं कालानलं स्मरेत् रक्तनेत्रं स्वरारूढं खड्गहस्तञ्च नैरृतं
bhāstravardhanyāṃ pūjayedasthirāsane iti gha , ja ca varṇavastramiti ga svarṇavastramiti kha , ja , ca kālaṃ mālākulaṃ raktamiti kha , ga , ṅa , cha ca kālaṃ mālākulaṃ, vyaktamiti ga jvālāmālākulaṃ saktamiti gha mahiṣasthaṃ daṇḍahastaṃ yamaṃ kālānalaṃ smaret raktanetraṃ svarārūḍhaṃ khaḍgahastañca nairṛtaṃ
ഭാസ്ത്രവർധനിയിൽ (ചില പാഠപ്രകാരം) അസ്ഥിരാസനത്തിൽ ഇരിക്കുന്നവനായി അവനെ പൂജിക്കണം. പാഠഭേദപ്രകാരം അവൻ വർണവസ്ത്രമോ സ്വർണവസ്ത്രമോ ധരിക്കുന്നു. യമനെ ‘കാല’ രൂപത്തിൽ സ്മരിക്കണം—മാലയോടുകൂടിയ, രക്തവർണ്ണൻ (അഥവാ വ്യക്തമായി പ്രത്യക്ഷൻ), ജ്വാലാമാലയിൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞ, മഹിഷാരൂഢൻ, ദണ്ഡഹസ്തൻ, ‘കാലാനല’ സ്വരൂപൻ. കൂടാതെ നൈഋതനെ സ്മരിക്കണം—രക്തനേത്രൻ, അശ്വാരൂഢൻ, ഖഡ്ഗഹസ്തൻ।
Lord Agni (narrating puranic ritual instructions, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Ritual worship and dhyana of Yama (as Kala/Kalanala) and Nairrita with variant readings; guides correct visualization, placement, and offering context (including bhāstravardhanī setting).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yama as Kāla/Kālānala and Nairṛta Dhyana (with recension variants)","lookup_keywords":["Yama-dhyana","Kalanala","Mahisha-vahana","Danda-hasta","Nairrita-khadga"],"quick_summary":"The verse supplies dhyana-lakshanas for Yama and Nairṛta and notes textual variants (seat/garment/flame-garland descriptors), helping a ritualist choose a consistent iconographic reading for worship."}
Weapon Type: Staff (danda), Sword (khadga)
Concept: Yama embodies niyama and karmaphala (law and consequence) as Kāla; Nairṛta embodies destructive/liminal power that must be ritually contained and honored.
Application: In rites, acknowledge time/death/liminality as controlled powers—worship prevents their disruptive manifestation and aligns practitioner with dharmic order.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra: Dikpala- & Yamadi-devata-smaraṇa in ritual worship
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two fierce guardians: Yama as fiery Time-Fire on a buffalo holding a staff, flame garland around; nearby Nairrita with red eyes on a horse holding a sword; ritual implements and a bellows-like fire-enhancing vessel indicated.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Yama dark-red with flame aureole on buffalo, bold staff; Nairrita red-eyed on horse with sword, strong outlines, ritual fire elements at bottom.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Yama with gold flame halo and embossed ornaments, buffalo richly caparisoned; Nairrita with sword gleaming in gold, both framed by arch motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear iconographic rendering with attention to implements (danda, khadga), subtle flames, small depiction of bhāstravardhanī near the ritual space.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: dramatic scene with smoky flames, Yama on buffalo and Nairrita on horse, fine detailing of weapons and textiles, subdued ominous palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूजयेदस्थिरासने → पूजयेत् अस्थिरासने. वर्णवस्त्रमिति → वर्णवस्त्रम् इति; स्वर्णवस्त्रमिति → स्वर्णवस्त्रम् इति; रक्तमिति → रक्तम् इति; व्यक्तमिति → व्यक्तम् इति; सक्तमिति → सक्तम् इति. खड्गहस्तञ्च → खड्गहस्तम् च (म् + च → ञ्च). Verse contains multiple पाठभेद-सूचकाक्षराणि (घ/ज/ग/ख/ङ/छ) treated as indeclinable textual markers.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch. 96: dikpala/yamadi smarana sequence; kalasha and avarana worship context
FAQs
It teaches dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization markers) for ritual worship—how to meditate on Yama as Kāla/Kālānala (buffalo-mounted, staff-bearing, garlanded/flame-wreathed) and on Nairṛta (red-eyed, horse-mounted, sword-bearing), including variant prescriptions for seat and garments.
It preserves practical ritual technology: iconographic specifications, dhyāna-forms, and manuscript variants used by different recensions—showing the Agni Purana’s role as a compendium of applied worship manuals (pūjā-vidhi) alongside theology.
Correct dhyāna and worship of directional/disciplinary deities like Yama and Nairṛta is traditionally held to stabilize rites, remove obstacles, and align the practitioner with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma), thereby supporting purification and protective merit in ritual practice.