Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 56 — दिक्पालयागकथनम्
Account of the Worship of the Guardians of the Directions
रक्ष त्वं दक्षिणद्वारं वैवस्वत नमोस्तु ते वैवस्वतं सङ्गमनमित्यनेन यजेद्यमं
rakṣa tvaṃ dakṣiṇadvāraṃ vaivasvata namostu te vaivasvataṃ saṅgamanamityanena yajedyamaṃ
Wahai Vaivasvata (Yama), lindungilah pintu selatan; sembah sujud kepadamu. Dengan mantra yang bermula “vaivasvataṃ saṅgamanam”, hendaklah seseorang memuja Yama.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dvārapāla-mantra prayoga for guarding the southern gate in pūjā/maṇḍala—invoking Yama (Vaivasvata) as a protective threshold-deity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Dakṣiṇa-dvāra-rakṣā: Vaivasvata (Yama) Dvārapāla-mantra","lookup_keywords":["Vaivasvata","Yama","dakṣiṇa-dvāra","dvārapāla","rakṣā-mantra"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Vaivasvata-Yama to secure the southern entrance; worship is performed with the mantra beginning ‘vaivasvataṃ saṅgamanam’ as a protective gate-rite."}
Concept: Dik-rakṣā through devatā-āhvāna: ordering sacred space by assigning guardians to directions and gates.
Application: Before main worship, secure liminal points (doors/directions) to prevent vighna and maintain ritual purity and focus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yama-dvara-raksha / Dvarapala-mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple or ritual pavilion with the southern gate marked; the priest recites a mantra invoking Vaivasvata-Yama as a stern guardian stationed at the threshold, warding off obstacles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, stylized Yama as Vaivasvata at the southern gateway, dark blue complexion, authoritative stance, attendants subtle, priest in white dhoti offering arghya at the threshold, sacred geometry on floor","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed Vaivasvata-Yama at a decorated southern doorframe, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, priest offering with small vessel, inscription-like mantra band","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional composition showing south gate labeled ‘Dakṣiṇa’, Yama positioned as dvārapāla, priest performing mantra-japa and offering, calm palette with clear ritual implements","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural gateway in perspective, Yama as a regal guardian at the south entrance, fine detailing of vessels and textiles, priest presenting offering, marginal notes indicating mantra and direction"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: namostu = namaḥ + astu; saṅgamanamityanena = saṅgamanam + iti + anena; yajedyamam = yajet + yamam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 56 (Pūjā-vidhi: dvāra-rakṣā, dikpāla-nyāsa)
FAQs
It gives a dvara-raksha (gateway-guarding) instruction: invoke Vaivasvata (Yama) specifically to protect the southern door and perform Yama-puja using the quoted mantra-phrase “vaivasvataṃ saṅgamanam”.
It exemplifies the text’s practical ritual manual dimension—prescribing direction-wise protective deities, specific mantras, and procedural worship (yajet) for safeguarding spaces, alongside its many other domains.
Honoring Yama as guardian of the south is meant to remove inauspicious influences associated with that direction and to secure protective merit (rakṣā) through correct mantra-based worship.