Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 24
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
शिरसा पाशशैथिल्ये निष्कृत्यैवं शतं जपेत् एवं पाशवियोगे ऽपि ततः शास्त्रजप्तया
śirasā pāśaśaithilye niṣkṛtyaivaṃ śataṃ japet evaṃ pāśaviyoge 'pi tataḥ śāstrajaptayā
Para o afrouxamento do laço (vínculo) do pāśa, tendo realizado assim o ato expiatório, deve-se recitá-lo cem vezes com a cabeça (em reverência). Do mesmo modo, mesmo para a completa separação do vínculo, isso deve ser alcançado depois pela recitação conforme a prescrição do śāstra.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Japa-prayoga for loosening and severing pāśa (bond/noose): perform prescribed expiation, then recite 100 times with head-bowing; final release achieved by śāstra-directed japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāśa-śaithilya and pāśa-viyoga by śata-japa","lookup_keywords":["pāśa-śaithilya","pāśa-viyoga","śata-japa","śirasā japa","niṣkṛti"],"quick_summary":"After the prescribed expiatory act, chant the mantra one hundred times with reverential head-bowing to loosen the bond; complete release is then accomplished through śāstra-prescribed recitation."}
Concept: Bondage (pāśa) is addressed through niṣkṛti (rectification) and disciplined repetition (japa) under śāstric rule; reverence (śirasā) supports inner surrender and efficacy.
Application: For ‘binding’ obstacles—ritual, psychological, or vow-related—follow a two-step protocol: (1) corrective act, (2) fixed-count japa (100) with humility; then continue as per the authoritative procedure for full release.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-prayoga (Ritual procedure and mantra application)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner performs an expiatory rite, then bows the head repeatedly while counting 100 recitations; a visible noose around a symbolic figure loosens and falls away as the japa continues.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sādhaka near a small fire altar, repeated head-bowing posture, rosary in hand, a stylized pāśa (noose) motif unraveling into lotus petals, strong reds and ochres, temple border designs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted noose breaking into fragments, sādhaka with mālā and lamp, count-markers subtly shown, radiant protective aura, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional scene with clear counting (mālā beads), sequence showing noose loosening then release, calm palette, emphasis on gesture ‘śirasā’ (head reverence)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with prayer mat and rosary, a symbolic bound figure in a corner vignette becoming unbound, fine detailing and calligraphic panel noting ‘śata-japa’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: पाशशैथिल्ये → पाश-शैथिल्ये; निष्कृत्यैवम् → निष्कृत्य + एवम्; पाशवियोगेऽपि → पाश-वियोगे + अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 85 (pāśa/bandha-mokṣa related prayogas; japa counts and nyāsa context)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific mantra-prayoga: after performing the stated niṣkṛti (expiation), one should do 100 repetitions (japa) for loosening a bond (pāśa-śaithilya), and for full release (pāśa-viyoga) continue with japa strictly as directed by śāstric injunction.
Alongside theology and myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves operational ritual technology—quantified japa counts, expiatory sequencing, and śāstra-compliant procedure—showing its role as a compendium of practical religious methods.
By pairing niṣkṛti (atonement) with disciplined japa, the verse frames liberation from “bondage” as both a ritual purification and a merit-producing act, aimed at removing obstructive karmic ties and restoring ritual/spiritual purity.