Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 52
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
ॐ सुंगन्धतन्मात्रे वियुङ्क्ष्व हुं फट् ॐ सम्पाहिं हा ॐ खं खं क्ष प्रकृत्या ॐ सुं हुं गन्धतन्मात्रे संहर स्वाहा ततः पूर्णाहुतिश् चैवमुत्तरेषु प्रयुज्यते ॐ रां रसतन्मात्रे ॐ भें रूपतन्मात्रे ॐ रं स्पर्शतन्मात्रे ॐ एं शब्दतन्मात्रे ॐ भं नमः ॐ सों अहङ्कारः ॐ नं बुद्धे ॐ ॐ प्रकृते एकमूर्तावयं प्रोक्तो दीक्षायोगः समासतः एवमेव प्रयोगस्तु नवव्यूहादिके स्मृतः
oṃ suṃgandhatanmātre viyuṅkṣva huṃ phaṭ oṃ sampāhiṃ hā oṃ khaṃ khaṃ kṣa prakṛtyā oṃ suṃ huṃ gandhatanmātre saṃhara svāhā tataḥ pūrṇāhutiś caivamuttareṣu prayujyate oṃ rāṃ rasatanmātre oṃ bheṃ rūpatanmātre oṃ raṃ sparśatanmātre oṃ eṃ śabdatanmātre oṃ bhaṃ namaḥ oṃ soṃ ahaṅkāraḥ oṃ naṃ buddhe oṃ oṃ prakṛte ekamūrtāvayaṃ prokto dīkṣāyogaḥ samāsataḥ evameva prayogastu navavyūhādike smṛtaḥ
ॐ—गन्धतन्मात्रे ‘वियुङ्क्ष्व’ इति हुं फट्। ॐ—‘सम्पाहि’ इति हा। ॐ—खं खं क्ष, प्रकृत्या सह। ॐ—सुं हुं—‘गन्धतन्मात्रं संहर’ इति स्वाहा। ततः पूर्णाहुतिं दद्यात्। एवमेवोत्तरेषु—ॐ रां रसतन्मात्रे, ॐ भें रूपतन्मात्रे, ॐ रं स्पर्शतन्मात्रे, ॐ एं शब्दतन्मात्रे। ॐ भं नमः। ॐ सों अहङ्काराय। ॐ नं बुद्धये। ॐ ॐ प्रकृतये। एष एकमूर्तौ दीक्षायोगः संक्षेपतः; नवव्यूहादिष्वपि एष एव प्रयोगः स्मृतः।
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in Agni Purāṇa’s ritual/initiatory procedures)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Bhūta-śuddhi and mantra-nyāsa during dīkṣā: separating and reabsorbing tanmātras (smell etc.) and internal principles (ahaṅkāra, buddhi, prakṛti) through bīja-mantras and homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dīkṣā-yoga: Tanmātra-śodhana mantras (gandha–rasa–rūpa–sparśa–śabda) with pūrṇāhuti","lookup_keywords":["bhuta-shuddhi","tanmatra","mantra-nyasa","purnahuti","nava-vyuha"],"quick_summary":"Use specific bīja-mantras to ‘separate’ and then ‘withdraw’ each tanmātra, followed by pūrṇāhuti; extend the same nyāsa to ahaṅkāra, buddhi, and prakṛti as part of initiation."}
Concept: Tattva-śodhana: reversing the outward flow of cognition by dissolving tanmātras and inner instruments back toward prakṛti under mantra-guidance.
Application: During dīkṣā/nyāsa, mentally map each mantra to its tattva, perform separation (viyoga) and reabsorption (saṃhāra), then seal with pūrṇāhuti.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-dīkṣā (Subtle elements, bhūta-śuddhi and mantra-nyāsa in initiation rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dīkṣā-homa setting: guru before a consecrated fire, disciple seated; mantras for tanmātras written on palm-leaf; subtle elements depicted as five colored essences dissolving inward; concluding pūrṇāhuti offered.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, guru performing homa with disciple, five tanmātras as symbolic colored vapors (gandha, rasa, rūpa, sparśa, śabda) spiraling into the heart-lotus, sacred fire and mantra syllables in Devanagari motifs, traditional ornaments, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central homa-kunda and pūrṇāhuti moment, guru and disciple richly adorned, haloed deity presiding, gold-highlighted mantra syllables ‘huṃ phaṭ svāhā’, five subtle essences as jewel-toned icons around the scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional layout: labeled sequence panels for gandha→rasa→rūpa→sparśa→śabda mantras, then ahaṅkāra/buddhi/prakṛti nyāsa, calm ritual interior with homa fire, soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed ritual pavilion, scholar-priest reciting, disciple attentive, small fire altar, marginalia showing bīja-mantras, five sensory essences depicted as delicate clouds entering a central figure’s chest, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: pūrṇāhutiś ca → pūrṇāhutiḥ + ca; caivamuttareṣu → ca + evam + uttareṣu; prayogastu → prayogaḥ + tu; ekamūrtāvayaṃ → eka-mūrtau + ayam; śuddhamīśvare (elsewhere) not in this verse. Mantra bīja-syllables treated as Avyaya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27 (dīkṣā, bhūta-śuddhi, nyāsa context)
FAQs
It teaches a dīkṣā (initiation) bhūta-śuddhi sequence: using specific bīja-mantras to separate and then dissolve the tanmātras (smell, taste, form, touch, sound) and then address ahaṅkāra, buddhi, and Prakṛti, concluding with pūrṇāhuti.
Beyond mythology, it preserves a precise, procedural manual of mantra-application—mapping Sāṃkhya categories (tanmātras, ahaṅkāra, buddhi, Prakṛti) into a working ritual technology used in initiation and worship systems.
The practice ritually internalizes dissolution (laya) of sensory subtle causes and ego-intellect into Prakṛti, aiming at purification, eligibility for mantra, and the karmic refinement associated with properly performed dīkṣā and oblation.