Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 23 — पूजाविधिकथनम्
The Account of the Rules of Worship
चैतन्यं सर्वगं ज्योतिरष्टजप्तेन वारिणा फडन्तेन तु संसिच्य हस्ते ध्यात्वा हरिं परे
caitanyaṃ sarvagaṃ jyotiraṣṭajaptena vāriṇā phaḍantena tu saṃsicya haste dhyātvā hariṃ pare
எட்டு முறை ஜபிக்கப்பட்ட நீராலும், ‘பட்’ (phaṭ) இணைந்த நீராலும் தெளித்து, கையில் அனைத்திலும் வியாபிக்கும் சைதன்ய ஜோதி ரூபமான பரம ஹரியைத் தியானிக்க வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vashistha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-empowered sprinkling (aṣṭa-japa water) and phaṭ-sealing for purification; then hand-dhyāna of Hari as sarvagata-caitanya-jyotis during worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-japta Prokṣaṇa, Phaṭ-Śodhana, and Hasta-dhyāna of Hari as Sarvagata Jyotis","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭa-japta","phaṭ","prokṣaṇa","hasta-dhyāna","caitanya-jyotis"],"quick_summary":"Sprinkle with water charged by eight recitations, then seal/purify with phaṭ-empowered water; meditate on Hari in the hand as the all-pervading conscious Light to sacralize action and offering."}
Concept: The divine is apprehended as caitanya-jyotis pervading all, localized for practice in the ‘hand’ that performs karma—linking metaphysics to ritual action.
Application: While performing offerings, hold a steady visualization that the acting hand is pervaded by Hari’s conscious light; use phaṭ as a mental ‘cut’ to drop distraction and impurity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Prokshana, and Tantric ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest sprinkles consecrated water from a spoon, then performs a sealing gesture with phaṭ; the palm is shown glowing with a subtle luminous form of Hari, suggesting conscious light pervading the hand.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic lamp-lit shrine, priest sprinkling water, palm depicted with radiant golden-white aura symbolizing caitanya-jyotis, restrained sacred symbolism, traditional border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf aura emanating from the palm, Viṣṇu presence suggested within the hand, ornate vessels and lamp with gold highlights, rich saturated colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear two-step sequence: aṣṭa-japta sprinkling then phaṭ sealing, with a soft luminous glow in the hand indicating Hari-dhyāna; fine lines and calm composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, delicate rendering of water droplets, subtle halo in the palm, detailed altar objects, refined interior architecture, understated mystical light effect."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jyotiḥ+aṣṭajaptena→jyotiraṣṭajaptena
Related Themes: Agni Purana 23 (prokṣaṇa, phaṭ usage, dhyāna within pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-empowerment of water (aṣṭa-japa) followed by protective “phaṭ” usage for prokṣaṇa (sprinkling), and then a nyāsa-style visualization of Hari as conscious, all-pervading light in the hand.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves precise, step-by-step liturgical technology—mantra counts, ritual actions like sprinkling, and visualization methods—showing it functions as a practical manual of worship (puja-vidhi) as well as a narrative Purana.
The rite purifies and sacralizes the practitioner’s action (hand and offerings) through mantra-śakti, while meditation on Hari as supreme consciousness reorients the ritual toward inner realization and protective sanctification.