Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
अध्याय 82 — संस्कारदीक्षाकथनम्
Saṃskāra-Dīkṣā: Consecratory Initiation
इत्येवमादिभिश्चिह्नैर् हुत्वा शिष्यस्य कल्मषं पापभक्षणहोमेन दहेद्वा तं भवात्मना
ityevamādibhiścihnair hutvā śiṣyasya kalmaṣaṃ pāpabhakṣaṇahomena dahedvā taṃ bhavātmanā
Setelah mempersembahkan oblation disertai tanda-tanda demikian dan seumpamanya, hendaklah ia membakar habis kekotoran (kalmaṣa) si murid; atau, melalui homa «pāpa-bhakṣaṇa» (homa pemakan dosa), hendaklah ia menelan-hapus kenajisan itu, dengan kesedaran mengidentifikasi diri sebagai Bhava (Śiva).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Śiṣya-śuddhi and prāyaścitta through homa: using prescribed signs and ‘pāpa-bhakṣaṇa’ offerings to remove ritual/ethical impurity, performed with Bhava (Śiva) bhāvanā (self-identification).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāpa-bhakṣaṇa Homa for Disciple Purification (Bhava-bhāvanā)","lookup_keywords":["śiṣya kalmaṣa","prāyaścitta homa","pāpa-bhakṣaṇa","Bhava Śiva bhāvanā","dahana"],"quick_summary":"After confirming auspicious fire-signs, perform a sin-devouring homa to burn the disciple’s defilements, maintaining Śiva-as-Bhava identification to empower the rite."}
Concept: Bhāvanā (identity-contemplation) transforms ritual into inner alchemy: impurity is ‘burned’ by awareness aligned with Bhava (Śiva).
Application: During corrective rites, keep a steady contemplative identity (devatā-bhāva) rather than mere mechanical offering; treat prāyaścitta as both ethical reset and attentional training.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Prayashchitta & Shishya-shuddhi Homa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru conducts a purification homa for a disciple; offerings rise into a clean flame while dark ‘impurity’ is symbolically consumed; the guru’s aura shows Bhava-Śiva identification (third eye/Śiva marks subtly).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru and disciple beside homa-kuṇḍa, stylized dark smoke-forms of ‘kalmaṣa’ being swallowed by bright flame, Śiva/Bhava aura behind the guru, bold sacred reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold flame and halo, guru with rudrākṣa and tripuṇḍra, disciple in humble posture, impurity depicted as dark motifs dissolving into gold-lit fire, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clear narrative: guru offering with ladle, disciple seated behind, caption-like space for ‘pāpa-bhakṣaṇa homa’, gentle colors, emphasis on ritual steps and calm faces","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed fire-pit, subtle symbolic dark wisps entering flame, refined textiles, guru’s Śiva-identification shown via discreet iconographic cues"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ityevamādibhiścihnair = iti evam-ādibhiḥ cihnaiḥ; dahedvā = dahet vā; bhavātmanā = bhava-ātmanā
Related Themes: Agni Purana 82.6–82.7 (fire fitness and omens); Agni Purana 82 (initiation/pūjā procedural flow)
FAQs
It prescribes a purificatory homa for a disciple: oblations are offered with specified ritual ‘signs/indications’ (cihna), and the disciple’s kalmaṣa (defilement) is ritually burned or ‘devoured’ through a pāpabhakṣaṇa-homa.
Beyond mythology, it records actionable liturgical procedure—initiation-linked purification through fire offerings and sectarian contemplative framing (Bhava/Śiva)—illustrating the text’s coverage of practical ritual technology (pujā-vidhi, dīkṣā, prāyaścitta).
The rite is aimed at karmic cleansing: sin/impurity (pāpa, kalmaṣa) is symbolically consumed by fire, while the practitioner’s Bhava-consciousness frames the act as transformative purification rather than mere external performance.