Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
कृत्वा वेद्यां सहानेन स्वपेद्दर्भास्तरे बुधः सुषुप्तं वीक्ष्य तं शिष्यः प्रभाते श्रावयेद्गुरुं
kṛtvā vedyāṃ sahānena svapeddarbhāstare budhaḥ suṣuptaṃ vīkṣya taṃ śiṣyaḥ prabhāte śrāvayedguruṃ
ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਹਵਿਸ਼ ਸਮੇਤ ਵੇਦੀ ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਬੁੱਧਿਮਾਨ ਦರ್ಭਾ ਦੀ ਸੇਜ ਉੱਤੇ ਸੌਵੇ। ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਸੁੱਤਾ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਿਸ਼੍ਯ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਪਨੇ/ਹਾਲਤ ਦਾ ਵੇਰਵਾ ਸੁਣਾਵੇ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual incubation: after preparing the vedī and havis, the sādhaka sleeps on darbha to obtain/verify auspicious signs (svapna-lakṣaṇa) and has them assessed by the guru via the disciple’s report at dawn.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Darbha-śayana and dawn dream-report in pūjā/vrata","lookup_keywords":["vedī","havis","darbha-śayana","svapna","guru-śiṣya"],"quick_summary":"After setting the altar and offering materials, the practitioner sleeps on darbha as a ritual observance; the disciple reports the observed sleep/dream signs to the teacher at dawn for validation of the rite’s auspiciousness."}
Concept: Guru-śiṣya mediation and verification of ritual signs (nimitta) as part of disciplined sādhana.
Application: Maintain a sādhana journal of dreams/omens; have them interpreted by a competent teacher before proceeding with higher rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vrata-vidhi (Ritual procedure and observances)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecrated altar (vedī) with offering implements; the sādhaka sleeping on a darbha-grass bed while a disciple watches; dawn light as the disciple approaches the seated guru to report the signs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, vedī with ritual vessels, darbha bed, sādhaka asleep in white cloth, attentive disciple, guru seated under a lamp at dawn, stylized foliage borders, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels and lamp, vedī centered, sādhaka on darbha, disciple with folded hands, guru enthroned with halo-like arch, rich reds and greens, devotional domestic-ritual setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional clarity: labeled vedī, havis bowl, darbha bed; disciple reporting to guru at sunrise; muted pastels and delicate ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior of an āśrama pavilion, dawn sky gradient, sādhaka on darbha mat, disciple observing, guru receiving report with manuscript nearby, intricate textiles and vessels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वपेद्दर्भास्तरे = स्वपेत् + दर्भ-स्तरे; श्रावयेद्गुरुं = श्रावयेत् + गुरुम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (pūjā-vidhi sequence around maṇḍala, snāna, prāṇāyāma)
FAQs
It prescribes a ritual sleep procedure: prepare the vedī with the required offering, sleep on darbha grass, and have the disciple report the sleep/dream outcome to the guru at dawn for interpretation and guidance.
Beyond theology, it documents practical ritual protocols—how an observance is performed, how outcomes (dreams/omens) are monitored, and how guru-led verification is built into the rite—showing the text’s procedural, manual-like scope.
Sleeping on darbha (a purificatory sacred grass) after preparing the ritual space frames the practitioner’s mind-body as ritually cleansed; guru-supervised reporting ensures the rite is performed correctly and that omens are interpreted in a dharmic, disciplined way.