Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 20
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
एवमुल्लिख्य चाभ्युक्ष्य प्रणवेन तु मन्त्रवित् विष्टरं कल्पयेत्तेन तस्मिन् शक्तिन्तु वैष्णवीं
evamullikhya cābhyukṣya praṇavena tu mantravit viṣṭaraṃ kalpayettena tasmin śaktintu vaiṣṇavīṃ
இவ்வாறு வரைந்து, அப்யுக்ஷணம் (புனித நீர் தெளித்தல்) செய்து, மந்திரம் அறிந்தவர் பிரணவம் (ஓம்) மூலம் விஷ்டரம் (ஆசனம்/வேதி) அமைக்க வேண்டும்; அதில் வைஷ்ணவீ சக்தியை ந்யாசமாக நிறுவ வேண்டும்।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Consecration sequence for a drawn mandala/altar: sprinkling (abhyukṣaṇa), Praṇava-japa, preparing the ritual seat (viṣṭara), and installing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti for worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Praṇava-prayoga: Abhyukṣaṇa, Viṣṭara-kalpanā, and Vaiṣṇavī-śakti-sthāpana","lookup_keywords":["praṇava","abhyukṣaṇa","viṣṭara","vaiṣṇavī-śakti","sthāpana"],"quick_summary":"After drawing the design, sprinkle it for purification, then using Oṁ establish the ritual seat and install the Vaiṣṇavī power as the operative presence for the rite."}
Concept: Śakti-sthāpana through mantra: the seat becomes a charged locus when purified and invoked by Praṇava.
Application: In pūjā/homa preliminaries, treat the altar as ritually alive—purify, invoke, then install the intended divine power before offerings.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava altar/mandala preparation and mantra-prayoga)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A completed mandala on the ground is sprinkled with water; a priest seated nearby chants Oṁ while arranging a viṣṭara (ritual seat) and invoking/placing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti upon it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest sprinkling sanctified water over a geometric mandala, conch and water vessel, viṣṭara seat shown, subtle depiction of Vaiṣṇavī aura, rich reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, priest with gold-embellished haloed symbols of Viṣṇu, ornate viṣṭara with gold leaf, water-sprinkling gesture frozen, sacred geometry on floor","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined ritual scene: clear mandala lines, priest chanting praṇava, labeled viṣṭara elements, delicate ornamentation and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier-like ritual chamber, priest sprinkling water on diagram, fine textiles, small inscription of Oṁ, luminous but restrained divine presence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: evamullikhya → evam ullikhya; cābhyukṣya → ca abhyukṣya; kalpayettena → kalpayet tena; śaktintu → śaktim tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (pūjā-vidhi sequence around mandala/viṣṭara); Agni Purana mantra and pūjā procedural chapters (general)
FAQs
It teaches a precise pūjā-sequence: draw the prescribed markings, purify by sprinkling (abhyukṣaṇa), prepare the ritual seat (viṣṭara), and invoke/install Vaiṣṇavī Śakti using the Praṇava (Oṁ) as the empowering mantra.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied ritual technology—practical steps of altar preparation, mantra-application, and śakti-nyāsa—alongside its broader teachings on dharma, polity, medicine, and arts.
The drawing and sprinkling signify purification and consecration; empowering the seat with Oṁ and installing Vaiṣṇavī Śakti establishes the deity’s presence, making the worship ritually valid and spiritually efficacious (śuddhi and siddhi of the rite).