Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 22 — स्नानविधिकथनं
Instruction on the Rite of Bathing
जप्त्वान्याञ्छतशस्तस्य योगपीठादितः क्रमात् मन्त्रान् दिक्पालपर्यन्तानृषीन् पितृगणानपि
japtvānyāñchataśastasya yogapīṭhāditaḥ kramāt mantrān dikpālaparyantānṛṣīn pitṛgaṇānapi
त्यानंतर त्या विधीतील इतर मंत्र शेकडो वेळा जपावेत, योगपीठापासून क्रमाने। दिक्पालांपर्यंतचे मंत्र तसेच ऋषी आणि पितृगण यांचेही यथाविधी आवाहन/जप करावे।
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Structured japa/invocation sequence: repeated recitation of subsidiary mantras, beginning from yogapīṭha, extending through dikpālas, ṛṣis, and pitṛ-gaṇas—used to stabilize the ritual field and authorize worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mantra-krama from Yogapīṭha to Dikpālas, Ṛṣis, and Pitṛ-gaṇas","lookup_keywords":["yogapitha","dikpala","rishi tarpana","pitr gana","mantra krama"],"quick_summary":"Recite ancillary mantras in a fixed order—starting with the yogapīṭha—then address direction-guardians, seers, and ancestors, with substantial repetition to complete the preparatory circuit."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on ordered inclusion of cosmic powers (dikpālas), lineage authorities (ṛṣis), and ancestral continuity (pitṛs).
Application: Follow a fixed mantra-krama and sufficient repetition to ‘complete the circle’ of the rite before main worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Yogapitha/Deity-installation preliminaries)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala is established: yogapīṭha at center, then eight/ten directions marked with dikpālas; the practitioner recites mantras repeatedly and offers respect to ṛṣis and pitṛ hosts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala with central yogapīṭha lotus, dikpālas at cardinal/intercardinal points, priest chanting with japamālā, subtle ancestral figures in upper register, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished mandala diagram with dikpālas in niches, central yogapīṭha, priest with mala; ornate borders and luminous gold detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic mandala layout: labeled directions, dikpāla figures, central pīṭha; practitioner seated with mala, offerings for ṛṣis and pitṛs arranged neatly.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, geometric courtyard mandala drawn on floor, small dikpāla emblems at edges, priest reciting with mala, faint ethereal ṛṣis/pitṛs above; intricate architectural framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जप्त्वान्यान् = जप्त्वा + अन्यान्. अन्याञ्छतशः = अन्यान् + शतशः (न् + श → ञ्छ). दिक्पालपर्यन्तानृषीन् = दिक्पाल-पर्यन्तान् + ऋषीन् (न् + ऋ → नृ). पितृगणानपि = पितृ-गणान् + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections detailing yogapīṭha/nyāsa, dikpāla-pūjana, and pitṛ-tarpaṇa adjuncts within puja-vidhi
FAQs
It prescribes the japa-krama: repeated recitation of the remaining mantras, beginning from the yogapīṭha, proceeding in order through the Dikpālas, and including Ṛṣi and Pitṛ components—i.e., a complete, properly sequenced mantra-cycle for a rite.
It exemplifies the text’s manual-like coverage of ritual technology—mapping a full liturgical sequence (yogapīṭha → directional deities → seers → ancestors), integrating tantric/yantric seating concepts with orthodox deity and ancestor observances.
Performing japa in the prescribed order is taught as a way to perfect the rite: it harmonizes the ritual space (directions), aligns the mantra-lineage (Ṛṣis), and satisfies ancestral obligations (Pitṛs), supporting purification and efficacy (siddhi) of the worship.