Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 21 — सामान्यपूजाकथनम्
Teaching on General Worship
अर्कासनं हि हं खं ख सोल्कायेति च मूर्तिकाम् ह्रां ह्रीं स सूर्याय नम आं नमो हृदाय च
arkāsanaṃ hi haṃ khaṃ kha solkāyeti ca mūrtikām hrāṃ hrīṃ sa sūryāya nama āṃ namo hṛdāya ca
ਅਰਕਾਸਨ (ਸੂਰਜ-ਆਸਨ) ਲਈ ‘ਹੰ, ਖੰ, ਖ’ ਇਹ ਬੀਜ ਅੱਖਰ ਅਤੇ ਮੂਰਤੀ-ਸਥਾਪਨਾ ਲਈ ‘ਸੋਲਕਾਯ’ ਇਹ ਪਦ ਵਰਤਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਫਿਰ ‘ਹ੍ਰਾਂ ਹ੍ਰੀਂ ਸ—ਸੂਰਿਆਯ ਨਮਃ’ ਜਪ ਕਰਕੇ, ਹਿਰਦੇ-ਨਿਆਸ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਆਂ—ਨਮੋ ਹ੍ਰਿਦਾਯ’ ਉਚਾਰੋ।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Surya-puja mantra-nyasa: establishing the deity-form (murti-bhavana) and performing hridaya-nyasa with specified bija-syllables during worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Surya-mantra-nyasa for Arka-āsana and Hṛdaya-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Surya-nyasa","Arka-asana","bija haṃ khaṃ","hrāṃ hrīṃ","hṛdaya-nyāsa āṃ"],"quick_summary":"Gives the seed-syllables used to consecrate the Sun’s seat and to install Sūrya in the heart-center via nyāsa. Practical use is in daily/occasional Sūrya-upāsanā with correct bijas and limb-placement."}
Concept: Mantra as śakti that ‘places’ divinity into body-centers (aṅga/hṛdaya) and into the worship-seat (āsana).
Application: Use precise bijas and nyāsa order to stabilize attention (bhāvanā) and protect ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Surya-mantra-nyasa (Tantric ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper performs Sūrya-pūjā: consecrating a radiant solar āsana, visualizing Sūrya’s form, then touching the heart for hṛdaya-nyāsa while reciting bijas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: Sūrya as a radiant deity with halo, seated on a lotus-āsana; priest in white performing nyāsa touching the chest; warm red-gold palette, stylized flames of solar aura, minimal background shrine elements.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central Sūrya with embossed gold halo and ornate arch; lotus seat emphasized; devotee at lower corner performing heart-nyāsa; rich jewel tones, heavy gold work on the solar aura and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional composition showing sequence—āsana-sthāpana then hṛdaya-nyāsa; fine linework, soft shading; labels for bijas ‘haṃ khaṃ kha’ and ‘hrāṃ hrīṃ sa’ near the respective actions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly yet devotional scene of a small shrine with a solar icon/yantra; practitioner touching heart; delicate architectural frame, detailed textiles, luminous sun-disc motif above."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Sūrya-associated morning mood (e.g., Bhairav/Bibhas family)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोल्कायेति = सोल्काय + इति; नमो हृदाय = नमः + हृदाय (विसर्ग-लोप/ओ-आदेश).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 21 (Pūjā-vidhi: nyāsa, aṅga-nyāsa, mūrti-sthāpana); Agni Purana sections on mantra-lakṣaṇa and devatā-dhyāna
FAQs
It gives a practical Surya-upasana procedure: using specific bīja-syllables for the Arka-āsana and mūrti-sthāpana, followed by Sūrya-invocation (hrāṃ hrīṃ … namaḥ) and hṛdaya-nyāsa (āṃ namo hṛdayāya).
Alongside myths and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves applied ritual technology—seed-mantras, deity-energizing syllables, and nyāsa mappings—showing its coverage of mantra-śāstra and pūjā-vidhi as a technical discipline.
By correctly invoking Sūrya with bīja-mantras and performing heart-nyāsa, the practitioner ritually ‘installs’ divine presence and purification in the inner self, aiming at protection, clarity, and merit through disciplined worship.