Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
ॐ हं खं खोल्कयेति यजेदावाह्य भास्करं ललाटाकृष्टमञ्जल्यां ध्यात्वा रक्तं न्यसेद्रविं
oṃ haṃ khaṃ kholkayeti yajedāvāhya bhāskaraṃ lalāṭākṛṣṭamañjalyāṃ dhyātvā raktaṃ nyasedraviṃ
Recitando “Oṁ haṁ khaṁ kholkaye”, deve-se prestar culto após invocar Bhāskara (o Sol). Elevando as palmas unidas até a testa e meditando Ravi (o Sol) como vermelho, deve-se realizar o nyāsa, a colocação ritual do Sol (mantra/deidade).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Gives an invocation-mantra and a bodily gesture/meditative protocol (añjali to forehead, red Sūrya visualization) for Sūrya-nyāsa and worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhāskara-āvāhana with ‘oṁ haṁ khaṁ kholkaye’ and lalāṭa-añjali dhyāna-nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["Bhāskara āvāhana","oṁ haṁ khaṁ kholkaye","lalāṭa añjali","raktaravi dhyāna","sūrya-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Bhāskara with the given mantra, lift joined palms to the forehead, meditate on the Sun as red, and perform nyāsa to install the solar presence in the ritual body/space."}
Concept: Embodied worship: mantra + mudrā/gesture + visualization culminate in nyāsa, making the body a locus of the deity.
Application: Use forehead-añjali to collect attention at ājñā region; keep the red-sun visualization steady while placing mantra to deepen invocation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Surya/Aditya-upasana, Mantra-nyasa and Dhyanayoga)
Primary Rasa: Bhakti
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee invokes Bhāskara with mantra, raises joined palms to the forehead, visualizes a red Sun-disc radiating, and performs nyāsa as the solar presence descends into the ritual space/body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in white dhoti with añjali at forehead, red sun deity emerging in halo, stylized rays, temple lamp and lotus motifs, warm palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, red Bhāskara in central medallion with heavy gold rays, devotee in añjali at forehead, ornate arch and gold embossing, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of gesture sequence (añjali to forehead), red sun-disc with subtle gradients, instructional composition with minimal ornament","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, devotee in courtyard at dawn, hands raised to forehead, red sun in sky with gilded rays, fine architectural background and delicate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Lalit","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खोल्कयेति = खोल्कय + इति; यजेदावाह्य = यजेत् + आवाह्य; ललाटाकृष्टमञ्जल्यां = ललाट + आकृष्ट + मञ्जल्याम्; न्यसेद्रविं = न्यसेत् + रविम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sūrya-upāsanā and nyāsa instructions in Puja-vidhi chapters
FAQs
It teaches a Surya-upasana practice: recite specific bīja-mantras, perform Bhāskara-āvāhana (invocation), use añjali raised to the forehead as a mudrā/gesture, meditate on the Sun’s red form, and then do nyāsa (ritual installation/placement).
Alongside mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical ritual technology—mantra-prayoga, āvāhana, dhyāna, and nyāsa—functioning like a concise manual for deity-worship procedures.
By invoking and installing the Sun with mantra, gesture, and meditation, the practitioner aligns mind and rite (dhyāna + nyāsa), traditionally believed to purify intention, increase spiritual merit, and secure the Sun’s auspicious blessings (tejas, health, clarity).