Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 23
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
अनन्तयोगपीठाय आवाह्याथ हृदब्जतः स्फटिकाभं चतुर्वाहुं फलशूलधरं शिवम्
anantayogapīṭhāya āvāhyātha hṛdabjataḥ sphaṭikābhaṃ caturvāhuṃ phalaśūladharaṃ śivam
अनन्तयोगपीठे आवाह्य, अथ हृदब्जात् स्फटिकाभं चतुर्भुजं फलशूलधरं शिवं समाह्वयेत्।
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Avahana and dhyana of Shiva: install the deity on the yogapitha and draw the form from the heart-lotus for puja, japa, and internal worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śiva-āvāhana from Hṛd-abja onto Ananta-yoga-pīṭha","lookup_keywords":["shiva avahana","hridabja","ananta-yoga-pitha","chaturbahu shiva","trishula"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Śiva onto the ‘seat of endless yoga’ and visualize him emerging from the heart-lotus: crystal-white, four-armed, holding boon-bestowing fruit and the trident—establishing a stable icon for worship."}
Concept: Deity is internalized: the heart-lotus is the locus of manifestation; external puja mirrors inner yoga.
Application: Before offerings, stabilize breath and attention at the heart; then perform avahana as a deliberate ‘bringing forth’ of the form into the ritual seat.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-mantra, dhyana and avahana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin-priest seated before a ritual seat (pitha) with a yantra/altar; from his heart-lotus emanates a crystal-white four-armed Śiva holding a fruit and trident, descending to be installed on the pitha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Śiva in pale crystal tones with four arms, trident prominent, fruit in another hand, heart-lotus motif glowing on the priest’s chest, strong outlines and temple ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Śiva with gold halo and embossed ornaments, trident rendered with gold work, fruit jewel-toned, pitha and altar richly decorated, deep blue/vermillion background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, elegant Śiva iconography with clear attributes, instructional depiction of avahana gesture, heart-lotus diagram subtly shown, soft colors and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined shrine interior, ascetic invoking, translucent crystal-white Śiva appearing from a lotus at the chest, intricate textiles and architectural framing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: āvāhyātha → āvahya + atha; hṛdabjataḥ → hṛt-abjataḥ (hṛd + abja + tas).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (Shiva-mantra dhyana/avahana procedures)
FAQs
It gives a precise āvāhana–dhyāna instruction: invoke Śiva onto the Ananta-yoga seat and visualize Him emerging from the heart-lotus with defined iconographic markers (crystal-white, four arms, fruit and trident).
It preserves a compact, manual-like specification of deity-invocation and iconography—typical of the Agni Purana’s cataloging of practical ritual procedures alongside broader Purāṇic theology.
Centering the invocation in the heart-lotus internalizes worship, aiming at purification of mind and focused devotion, while correct āvāhana and dhyāna are traditionally held to make the rite efficacious and merit-bearing.