Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
पवित्रारोहणविधिः
The Rite of Raising/Placing the Pavitra
सर्वतत्त्वेषु सुव्रत इति ख, ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकत्रयपाठः दद्यादङ्गावतारकमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ॐ हां विद्यातत्त्वाधिपतये शिवाय स्वाहा ॐ हौं शिवतत्त्वाधिपतये शिवाय स्वाहा ॐ हौं सर्वतत्त्वाधिपतये शिवाय स्वाहा नत्वा गङ्गावतारन्तु प्रार्थयेत्तं कृताञ्जलिः त्वङ्गतिः सर्वभूतानां संस्थितिस्त्वञ्चराचरे
sarvatattveṣu suvrata iti kha, ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakatrayapāṭhaḥ dadyādaṅgāvatārakamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ oṃ hāṃ vidyātattvādhipataye śivāya svāhā oṃ hauṃ śivatattvādhipataye śivāya svāhā oṃ hauṃ sarvatattvādhipataye śivāya svāhā natvā gaṅgāvatārantu prārthayettaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ tvaṅgatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃsthitistvañcarācare
“(Catatan varian bacaan: sebahagian naskhah membaca ‘sarvatattveṣu suvrata’; sebahagian membaca ‘dadyād aṅgāvatārakam’.) Hendaklah dipersembahkan (oblation) dengan mantra-mantra ini: ‘Oṃ hāṃ—kepada Śiva, Penguasa prinsip pengetahuan (vidyā-tattva), svāhā’; ‘Oṃ hauṃ—kepada Śiva, Penguasa prinsip Śiva (śiva-tattva), svāhā’; ‘Oṃ hauṃ—kepada Śiva, Penguasa segala prinsip (sarva-tattva), svāhā.’ Kemudian, setelah bersujud, dengan kedua telapak tangan dirapatkan hendaklah memohon turunnya Gaṅgā: ‘Engkaulah perlindungan dan tujuan semua makhluk; Engkaulah tempat tegaknya yang bergerak dan yang tidak bergerak.’”
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha (contextual attribution)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Homa/offerings with specific bīja-mantras (hāṃ/hauṃ) addressed to Śiva as lord of vidyā-tattva, śiva-tattva, and sarva-tattva; followed by a Gaṅgā-avatāra prayer to invoke purificatory descent and cosmic support.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Three Śiva-tattva adhīpati homa-mantras and Gaṅgā-avatāra prayer","lookup_keywords":["hāṃ","hauṃ","vidyā-tattva","sarva-tattva","gaṅgā-avatāra"],"quick_summary":"Offer with three mantras invoking Śiva as presiding lord over knowledge-principle, Śiva-principle, and all principles; then pray for Gaṅgā’s descent as refuge and support of all beings."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repetition) / Yamaka-like cadence via repeated ‘oṃ … śivāya svāhā’
Concept: Śiva is framed as adhīpati of layered tattvas (vidyā/śiva/sarva), and Gaṅgā is praised as refuge and sustaining ground of all beings—linking metaphysics to ritual invocation.
Application: Use graded invocations (specific tattva-lords) to structure worship from knowledge to totality; conclude with a surrender-prayer (śaraṇāgati) to stabilize the mind after offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-tantra (Shiva-tattva and Ganga-avatara prayer)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A homa scene where the priest offers oblations while chanting three parallel Śiva mantras (hāṃ/hauṃ … śivāya svāhā), then bows with añjali and prays for Gaṅgā’s descent as refuge and support of all beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blazing homa-kuṇḍa before a Śiva shrine, mantra syllables ‘hāṃ’ and ‘hauṃ’ stylized in the air, priest in añjali, Gaṅgā as luminous stream descending, deep earthy palette and lamp-lit sanctum mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate Śiva shrine with gold aureole, homa fire with gold highlights, priest offering with ladle, Gaṅgā depicted as descending white-gold stream, heavy gold leaf detailing on vessels and arch.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional ritual tableau with three mantra panels (vidyā-tattva/śiva-tattva/sarva-tattva) leading to a final prayer panel, clean linework, soft colors, clear sequencing cues.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined ritual courtyard with fire altar, priest chanting, delicate calligraphic cartouches for the three mantras, Gaṅgā as a translucent ribbon of water/light, intricate textiles and architectural borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gaṅgāvatārantu → गङ्गावतारम् + तु; प्रार्थयेत्तं → प्रार्थयेत् + तम्; त्वङ्गतिः → त्वम् + गतिः; संस्थितिस्त्वञ्चराचरे → संस्थितिः + त्वम् + च + चराचरे (here read as राचरे/चराचरे; dvandva ‘चर-अचर’ in locative). Manuscript-note segments treated as textual apparatus (avyaya markers).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 79 (Gaṅgā-avatāraka; mantra-anta svāhā; tattva framing)
FAQs
It prescribes a Śaiva oblation/invocation using specific bīja-mantras (hāṃ, hauṃ) addressed to Śiva as the overlord of (1) vidyā-tattva, (2) śiva-tattva, and (3) all tattvas, followed by a formal supplication for Gaṅgā’s descent (gaṅgāvatāra).
It combines mantra-śāstra (bīja-mantras), tattva-doctrine (classification of principles and their lordship), and practical pūjā procedure (offering with svāhā and concluding stuti), illustrating how the Agni Purana functions as a compendium of ritual technology and metaphysical vocabulary.
By invoking Śiva as the sovereign of knowledge and all principles and by praying for Gaṅgā’s descent—symbolic of purification—the rite is framed as a means to obtain refuge (gati), stability (saṃsthiti), and cleansing merit through disciplined worship and reverent petition.