Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 35
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
न्यासं शिष्ये ततः कृत्वा तं प्रदक्षिणमानयेत् पश्चिमद्वारमानीय क्षेपयेत् कुसुमाञ्जलिम्
nyāsaṃ śiṣye tataḥ kṛtvā taṃ pradakṣiṇamānayet paścimadvāramānīya kṣepayet kusumāñjalim
பின்னர் சீடனின் மீது மந்திர-ந்யாசம் செய்து, அவனைப் புனித இடத்தைச் சுற்றிப் பிரதட்சிணம் செய்யச் செய்ய வேண்டும். மேற்குத் துவாரத்திற்குக் கொண்டு சென்று மலரஞ்சலியைச் செலுத்தச் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Diksha/puja-vidhi: perform mantra-nyasa on the disciple, guide pradakshina, and complete a flower-offering at the prescribed doorway to ritually seal orientation and entry into the mandala.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyasa and Pradakshina for the Disciple (Western Door Flower-Offering)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","pradakshina","pashchima-dvara","kusumanjali","diksha-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"After nyasa, the disciple is led in circumambulation and made to offer a handful of flowers at the western doorway, marking ritual orientation and acceptance into the sacred circuit."}
Concept: Embodied ritual (nyasa + movement) integrates mantra, space, and disciple into a single consecrated identity.
Application: Use bodily circumambulation and threshold-acts to stabilize attention and mark transitions in initiation/puja.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Diksha, Nyasa, Mandala-Pradakshina and Temple/Ritual Procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A guru performs nyasa on a seated disciple, then leads him around a mandala/temple precinct; at the western doorway the disciple offers a handful of flowers.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, guru and disciple in a mandala courtyard, pradakshina path encircling a sanctum, western gateway emphasized, disciple casting flower-handful, earthy reds and ochres, stylized architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate doorway with gold leaf, guru guiding disciple, bright flower offering at the western threshold, rich textiles, haloed sacred space, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional ritual scene: nyasa gestures on disciple, then circumambulation around a marked mandala, labeled western door, delicate lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple courtyard with circumambulation, guru in saffron, disciple offering flowers at a western gate, fine architectural detailing and floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुसुमाञ्जलिम् = कुसुम + अञ्जलिम् (अ + अञ्ज → आञ्ज). पश्चिमद्वारमानीय = पश्चिमद्वारम् + आनीय (म् + आ → मा).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (diksha-nyasa, mandala, pradakshina context); Agni Purana puja-vidhi sections on dvara/mandala procedures
FAQs
It teaches an initiation-step sequence: perform mantra-nyāsa on the disciple, guide him in clockwise pradakṣiṇā of the sanctified area, then at the western entrance have him offer (cast) a kusumāñjali (handful of flowers).
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves precise procedural liturgy—micro-instructions for diksha and puja (nyāsa, pradakṣiṇā, directional gateways, flower offerings), functioning like a practical ritual handbook within a Purāṇic compendium.
Nyāsa sacralizes the disciple’s body as fit for mantra; pradakṣiṇā expresses reverence and alignment with dharma (clockwise movement around the sacred); the kusumāñjali is a purity-and-devotion offering that seals the rite with auspicious intent.