Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Raṇadīkṣā (War-Consecration) — Agni Purāṇa Adhyāya 235
वामनाय विरूपाय स्वप्नाधिपतये नमः संविशेदिति ज भगवन्देवदेवेश शूलभृद्वृषवाहन
vāmanāya virūpāya svapnādhipataye namaḥ saṃviśediti ja bhagavandevadeveśa śūlabhṛdvṛṣavāhana
“Sembah sujud kepada Vāmana; sembah sujud kepada Virūpa; sembah sujud kepada Penguasa mimpi.” Setelah berkata demikian, hendaklah berbaring (untuk tidur). Wahai Bhagavān—Tuhan segala dewa, pemegang trisula, yang berwahana lembu (Vṛṣavāhana)!
Lord Agni (teaching a practical mantra-usage within a ritual instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Protective invocation before sleep: salutations to forms/titles (Vāmana, Virūpa, Svapnādhīpati) and concluding address to Śiva as trident-bearer, bull-mounted—used as a bedtime safeguard and dream-governance prayer.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Svapna-rakṣā-namaskāra (Vāmana–Virūpa–Svapnādhīpati; Śūlabhṛt Vṛṣavāhana)","lookup_keywords":["svapnādhīpati","vāmana","virūpa","śūlabhṛt","vṛṣavāhana"],"quick_summary":"Recite salutations to the divine as Vāmana, Virūpa, and Lord of dreams, then lie down; the closing address invokes Śiva’s protective power as trident-bearer riding the bull, aiming at safe sleep and auspicious dreams."}
Concept: Liminal rites (sleep) are sacralized through mantra; the psyche is entrusted to a protective divine governance over dreams and inner states.
Application: Use a consistent pre-sleep invocation to reduce fear/mental agitation and to frame sleep as a protected, intentional transition.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-japa and Devata-namaskara (protective invocation before sleep)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At bedtime, a devotee recites salutations to the Lord of dreams and to Śiva, trident in hand, bull-mounted; the scene blends a quiet sleeping chamber with a protective divine vision hovering nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: night chamber with single oil lamp; devotee reclining after prayer; large protective Śiva with trident and bull mount appearing as a guardian vision; deep earthy tones and strong outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: luminous Śiva with gold halo, trident, and Nandi; devotee at the edge of a bed-mat with folded hands; gold embossing on trident and ornaments; serene night ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: gentle bedtime ritual illustration; text-scroll of the mantra near the figure; Śiva as Vṛṣavāhana shown softly in the background; emphasis on calm, protective mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: richly patterned bedroom, moonlight through a jali window; devotee finishing prayer and lying down; translucent Śiva with trident and bull in the corner as protective apparition; fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संविशेदिति = संविशेत् + इति; भगवन्देवदेवेश = भगवत् (सम्बोधन) + देवदेवेश (सम्बोधन) (नकारादेश/सन्धि); शूलभृद्वृषवाहन = शूलभृत् + वृषवाहन (त् + व् → द् + व्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana raṇadīkṣā/pūjā-vidhi continuation: śayana-related observances and protective mantras; Agni Purana Śiva epithets and stotra/mantra sections
FAQs
It gives a practical prayoga: recite a short namaskāra-mantra to key divine epithets (including the ‘Lord of dreams’) and then lie down—used as a protective, sleep-related pacificatory rite (svapna-śānti).
Beyond myth, it preserves applied household ritual—minute daily-life procedures (like mantras for sleeping and dream protection), showing the text’s wide scope across practical religion, not only theology.
The act of remembering and saluting the deity before sleep is treated as a purificatory safeguard: it sanctifies the liminal state of sleep, wards off inauspicious dreams, and aligns the mind with dharmic remembrance.