Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Kapilādipūjāvidhāna — Procedure for Worship Beginning with Kapilā
मध्याह्ने भोजनागारे सुलिप्ते पाकमानयेत् ततो मृत्युञ्जयेनैव वौषडन्तेन सप्तधा
madhyāhne bhojanāgāre sulipte pākamānayet tato mṛtyuñjayenaiva vauṣaḍantena saptadhā
Pada waktu tengah hari, di tempat makan yang telah disapukan rapi (disucikan), hendaklah dibawa masuk makanan yang telah dimasak; kemudian, dengan hanya mantra Mṛtyuñjaya yang diakhiri seruan “vauṣaṭ”, lakukanlah tujuh kali.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Protective sanctification of food/space at midday by sevenfold recitation/offering with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra ending in 'vauṣaṭ', integrating purity of dining with apamṛtyu-nivāraṇa intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mṛtyuñjaya-vauṣaṭ saptadhā over naivedya/anna","lookup_keywords":["mṛtyuñjaya","vauṣaṭ","saptadhā","bhojanāgāra","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"In a purified dining area at midday, bring cooked food and perform sevenfold Mṛtyuñjaya recitation/oblation ending with 'vauṣaṭ' to consecrate and protect the meal."}
Concept: Anna as sacred; mantra as a means of saṃskāra (consecration) and rakṣā; number-discipline (saptadhā) for steadiness of mind.
Application: Before eating, ensure the place is clean, pause for seven intentional recitations with offering-intent, then proceed to serve.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-kalpa (Ritual procedure and protective rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Household
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clean, freshly smeared dining area; cooked food is brought in; the practitioner performs sevenfold Mṛtyuñjaya recitation with a ritual gesture of offering, marked by 'vauṣaṭ'.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, domestic sacred space with freshly plastered floor, food vessels, practitioner seated facing a small fire/altar-like setup, seven symbolic flower/mark repetitions around, austere devotional mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gleaming vessels and gold accents, practitioner holding a spoon/offerings, subtle 'seven' motif via seven lamps, rich warm palette, sanctified dining hall","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic clarity: dining space, food pot, practitioner counting seven recitations on fingers/mālā, clean lines, minimal background, emphasis on procedure","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed kitchen-to-dining transition, attendants carrying dishes, practitioner performing mantra gesture, fine textures on utensils and floor, intimate realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mṛtyuñjayenaiva → mṛtyuñjayena + eva; bhojanāgāre → bhojana + āgāre.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 77.9 (sprinkling and offering first portion to Śiva as continuation)
FAQs
It prescribes a precise prayoga: at midday, in a ritually purified dining area, the prepared food is presented and the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra is applied seven times with a “vauṣaṭ” ending—indicating an offering-style recitation for protection.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical manuals: here it records a concrete domestic-ritual protocol (place purification, timing, mantra-ending formula, and repetition count), typical of its wide-ranging ritual and technical instructions.
By linking food (daily sustenance) with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra and a formal offering-call, the act sacralizes eating, seeks protection from untimely death and harm, and is framed as a purificatory, merit-bearing observance.