Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
मतङ्गः पिङ्गलश् चैव हरो वै धातृसज्ञकः शङ्कुकर्णो विधानश् च श्रीकण्ठश् चन्द्रशेखरः
mataṅgaḥ piṅgalaś caiva haro vai dhātṛsajñakaḥ śaṅkukarṇo vidhānaś ca śrīkaṇṭhaś candraśekharaḥ
Baginda disebut Mataṅga; dan Piṅgala; sesungguhnya Hara; dikenali sebagai Dhātṛ; Śaṅku-karṇa; dan Vidhāna; Śrīkaṇṭha; serta Candraśekhara.
Lord Agni (narrating the names/epithets as part of a stotra-style catalog)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Rudra/Śiva nāma-japa for purification, protection, and sectarian worship; supports sahasranāma-style recitation.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rudra-nāma: Śiva epithets (Śrīkaṇṭha, Candraśekhara, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Hara","Śrīkaṇṭha","Candraśekhara","Piṅgala","Dhātṛ"],"quick_summary":"A short cluster of Śiva’s names highlighting creator-support (Dhātṛ/Vidhāna), beneficence (Śrīkaṇṭha), and lunar iconography (Candraśekhara) for use in stotra-japa."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā
Concept: Approaching the one deity through many functional names—creation/order (Dhātṛ/Vidhāna) and transcendence (Hara).
Application: Recite as part of Rudra-japa or during abhiṣeka; meditate on each epithet as a distinct dhyāna-point (moon, throat, cosmic order).
Khanda Section: Shiva-Sahasranama / Rudra-nama (Names of Śiva)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śiva depicted as Candraśekhara with crescent moon in his hair and a radiant, auspicious throat; surrounding text panels list the epithets Mataṅga, Piṅgala, Hara, Dhātṛ, Śaṅku-karṇa, Vidhāna, Śrīkaṇṭha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva in serene stance, crescent moon on jaṭā, cool ash tones with warm accents, large expressive eyes, epithets inscribed in circular band, temple-wall composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Candraśekhara Śiva with gold halo and ornate jewelry, crescent moon highlighted with gold, rich blue/green background, name-cartouches around the figure","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework of Śiva iconography with labeled features (moon, throat, ear ornament), soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Śiva seated in a landscape with moonlit sky, delicate rendering of crescent in hair, calligraphic epithets in margins, fine textile detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पिङ्गलश् → पिङ्गलः; श्रीकण्ठश् → श्रीकण्ठः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 85 (Śiva-nāma clusters within sahasranāma material)
FAQs
This verse functions as nāma-japa material: it provides specific epithets of Śiva used for recitation (stotra/namāvali), supporting devotional practice and liturgical chanting.
By cataloging divine epithets with distinct theological nuances (destroyer, ordainer, moon-crested, etc.), the Agni Purana preserves ritual vocabulary and doctrinal identifiers used across temple worship, mantra-recitation, and sectarian Śaiva traditions.
Reciting and remembering these names is traditionally held to purify the mind, remove obstacles and sins (Hara), and cultivate devotion to Śiva, thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and spiritual steadiness.